Doug Emhoff, the spouse of Vice President Kamala Harris, is taking his first solo trip abroad by leading the U.S. delegation to the Paralympic Games in Tokyo later this month.
The only other member of the presidential delegation for the Games is Raymond Greene, who serves as the Chargé d'Affaires ad interim, or interim head, of the U.S. Embassy in Japan.
President Joe Biden made the announcement Tuesday.
Emhoff will lead a small delegation of himself and Greene to the Games that, like the Olympics, were delayed a year because of the coronavirus.
The Paralympics will also be held in Tokyo as Japan's largest city sees a surge in infections fueled by the more contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus.
Emhoff will attend the August 24 opening ceremony with Greene, who will head the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo until an ambassador is sworn in.
At the same time, Harris will be in the midst of her trip to Singapore and Vietnam focused on 'strengthen[ing] relationships and expand[ing] economic cooperation with two critical Indo-Pacific partners of the United States.'
About 4,400 athletes with physical disabilities from 160 countries will compete in more than 20 sporting events under strict public health measures, much like the Olympics, through September 5.
At the same time as Emhoff's first solo trip abroad on August 24, his wife Vice President Kamala Harris will also be in Asia visiting Singapore and Vietnam
The only other person in the delegation with Emhoff will be Raymond Greene, who serves as interim chief of the Embassy in Japan until an ambassador is sworn in
Japan has counted 1 million infections and more than 15,700 deaths from COVID-19, faring better than many countries, but the delta variant has caused many of the newest cases and is quickening the spread of the virus.
Tokyo´s new daily cases more than doubled during the Olympic Games, which ended Sunday, with 2,884 cases recorded Monday.
Biden tapped first lady Jill Biden to lead the U.S. delegation at the Olympics' opening ceremony on July 23.
She also met with Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Emperor Naruhito and also attended several Olympic competitions before she flew back to Washington by way of a stop in Hawaii.
Emhoff, a former entertainment lawyer, has traveled to more than 20 states since Biden and Harris took office in January. He mostly has toured COVID-19 clinics and encouraged people to get inoculated against the disease.
This is his first solo international trip as the second gentleman.
Later this month, Harris will also be in Asia at the same time as her husband with her trip to Singapore and Vietnam.
'During the trip, the Vice President will engage the leaders of both governments on issues of mutual interest, including regional security, the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and our joint efforts to promote a rules-based international order,' Harris' chief spokesperson Symone Sanders said in a statement last month announcing the trip.
President Biden tapped First Lady Jill Biden to lead the delegation at the Olympic Games in Tokyo last month
'The Vice President will also affirm and celebrate the strong cultural and people-to-people ties between the United States and these countries,' she added.
'President Biden and Vice President Harris have made it a top priority to rebuild our global partnerships and keep our nation secure, and this upcoming visit continues that work – deepening our engagement in Southeast Asia.'
Sanders' statement concluded: 'Vice President Harris will be the first Vice President to ever visit Vietnam.'
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