WASHINGTON (Kyodo) -- U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Monday named George Glass, a businessman from Oregon with a background in investment banking and real estate, as ambassador to Japan.

"As a former President of an Investment Bank, George will bring his business acumen to the Ambassador's position," Trump said in a statement, adding, "He will always PUT AMERICA FIRST."

The announcement came as the Republican, whose unpredictable leadership style and "America First" policies strained relations with close U.S. allies during his first term, prepares to return to the White House on Jan. 20.

Japan's top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed hope during a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday that Glass will serve as an important bridge between the two nations.

"We are looking forward to elevating the alliance to new heights with the next ambassador and the U.S. administration," he said.

Glass served as ambassador to Portugal during Trump's first term between 2017 and 2021.

A major donor to Trump, according to official data, Glass, who also has expertise in finance and technology, founded MGG Development LLC in 2015.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Oregon in 1989. Before establishing MGG Development, he was founder and president of Pacific Crest Securities, a technology investment bank in Portland in the northwestern state.

A statement by Glass submitted to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in July 2017 for his confirmation process for the role of ambassador to Portugal showed that the eldest of his three sons was living in Japan.

In a press conference before the announcement, Trump was asked if Glass would be his pick for ambassador to Japan. He did not provide a clear answer but said a few times Glass is "highly respected."

"He's been an ambassador before. He did a fantastic job. We consider Japan very important. He's very highly respected," the 78-year-old incoming president said at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

Current U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, who has served under Democratic President Joe Biden, vowed "full support during a seamless transition."

He also expressed eagerness to continue to strengthen the bilateral alliance to "ensure a secure and stable" Indo-Pacific in a post on X, formerly Twitter.