Trump praises Japan’s first female Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during Tokyo visit

Post by : Saif Nasser

U.S. President Donald Trump met Japan’s first woman Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, in Tokyo on Tuesday. During the visit, both leaders signed new agreements on trade, defense, and rare minerals. The meeting was seen as a step to make U.S.-Japan relations stronger, especially as both countries face growing challenges from China.

Trump praised Takaichi for her leadership and congratulated her for making history as Japan’s first female prime minister. He called her “one of the great leaders” and said he believed she would guide Japan with strength and confidence. The meeting took place at the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, where both sides discussed how to improve trade and defense cooperation.

Prime Minister Takaichi, who was a close ally of former Japanese leader Shinzo Abe, also spoke warmly about Trump. She thanked him for his efforts to solve global conflicts and said she would nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize. Takaichi also gifted Trump several personal items linked to Abe — including his golf putter, a golf bag signed by Japanese golfer Hideki Matsuyama, and a gold-leaf golf ball. These gifts symbolized the strong friendship Abe and Trump shared before Abe’s death in 2022.

During their lunch meeting, which featured rice and beef from the United States and vegetables from Takaichi’s hometown of Nara, Trump was shown a map of new Japanese investments in the United States. Japan plans to invest billions of dollars in American industries such as energy, shipbuilding, and artificial intelligence. Reports say Japanese companies are preparing over $400 billion in new U.S. investments, while Japan will also increase imports of American soybeans, gas, and vehicles.

One of the main agreements signed during the visit focused on critical minerals — such as lithium and nickel — that are used to make batteries, mobile phones, and fighter jets. Both leaders agreed that reducing dependence on China for these materials is important. The new deal will help the two countries work together on mining, technology, and storage of these minerals.

Trump also praised Japan for increasing its defense spending to 2% of its national income. Takaichi said this will help Japan become more capable of protecting itself and its allies. Trump expressed strong support for Japan’s move, calling it “a smart and powerful decision.”

After the official meeting, Trump met with families of Japanese citizens kidnapped by North Korea in the 1960s and 1970s. These people were taken to train North Korean spies, and Japan has demanded information about all those still missing. Trump told reporters that “the United States is with them all the way” and added that he is open to meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his Asia visit.

Trump’s trip to Japan is part of his five-day Asia tour, which started in Malaysia and will later take him to South Korea. His goal is to promote peace and strengthen trade partnerships in the region. He hopes to reach a trade understanding with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to South Korea later this week.

For Takaichi, this meeting was not only about international cooperation but also about building her political strength at home. Her government currently does not have a full majority in Japan’s parliament, and strong ties with Washington could help her gain public confidence. Her effort to honor Shinzo Abe’s legacy and deepen ties with the United States reflects her strategy to keep Japan’s foreign policy stable and respected.

The visit ended on a positive note, with both leaders expressing hope for stronger relations. Trump said the partnership between the U.S. and Japan “has never been better.” Takaichi replied that the visit showed “trust, friendship, and shared goals.” Both sides promised to continue discussions on trade, technology, and regional peace in the months ahead.

Trump and Takaichi will also visit the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka, home to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, a symbol of America’s military presence in Asia. This visit highlights the deep military cooperation between the two nations.

The meeting in Tokyo marks the beginning of what both leaders hope will be a new era of cooperation between Japan and the United States. Their focus on defense, trade, and critical minerals shows how both countries are preparing for a future where security and technology will shape global power.