Rahm Emanuel — a former Chicago mayor and a White House official under Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden — is the latest left-leaning pundit to join CNN.
Emanuel, who most recently served as ambassador to Japan during the Biden administration, is the network’s new senior political and global affairs commentator, CNN said Thursday.
“Emanuel will bring his extensive knowledge of American politics and international affairs to CNN’s on-air programming,” CNN said in a press release.
Former ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel is joining CNN as a commentator. Rodrigo Reyes Marin/ZUMA Press Wire / SplashNews.comHe was Chicago’s mayor from 2011 to 2019, after serving as White House chief of staff for Obama.
The controversial Democrat, and brother to Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel, is the latest leftist pundit to be added to CNN’s panel as the network pursues sweeping changes at the start of the Trump administration.
He emerged as one of Biden’s most contentious ambassador nominees as left-wing Democrats decried his record on police brutality.
In 2014, Emanuel — then mayor of Chicago — refused to release damning dashboard footage of a city police officer fatally shooting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. Amid backlash, the mayor dropped his bid for re-election.
Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) opposed his ambassador nomination.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) also spoke out against the “deeply shameful” choice.
Rahm Emanuel served as White House chief of staff for President Barack Obama. REUTERSIn January, Emanuel stepped down from the ambassadorship just a week before President Trump took office.
He has already been appearing on CNN’s shows as a guest, speaking with Cristiane Amanpour in December and on “State of the Union” with Dana Bash.
Emanuel has also penned a few opinion columns for the Washington Post, claiming that Trump is “Nobel Prize shopping” and making arguments on how the Democratic Party can bounce back after losing voters’ confidence.
CNN is pursuing sweeping changes, including about 200 layoffs across TV operations as it swings to a digital-first strategy. LightRocket via Getty Images
Rahm Emanuel served as ambassador to Japan during President Joe Biden’s administration. APEarlier this year, CNN boss Mark Thompson unveiled wide-ranging changes to the network, including 200 layoffs across TV operations as the company pivots to a digital-first strategy.
The network also announced schedule changes, like moving veteran anchor Wolf Blitzer to frequent Trump critic Jim Acosta’s morning slot. Acosta later announced he was leaving the network.
The network also moved Jake Tapper’s “The Lead” to the 5 p.m. spot, added Audie Cornish to “CNN This Morning” at 6 a.m. and named Rahel Solomon host of the 5 a.m. show “5 Things.”
