Tokyo
—
Donald Trump and Sanae Takaichi looked more like old friends than world leaders during their first meeting in Tokyo.
There were smiles, pats on the back, hugs, and even a joke about being late because he was watching the Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Series game, led by Japanese megastar Shohei Ohtani.
The US president received a Nobel Peace Prize nomination (on his second trip to Asia) and a golf putter previously owned by the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who famously bonded with President Trump on the greens.
Their easy friendship continued at Yokosuka Naval Base, where President Trump invited Takaichi to the stage aboard the USS George Washington and praised her leadership. Japan’s new prime minister responded with a triumphant fist pump and a twirl, a moment that quickly went viral in his home country.
The message was unmistakable: the chemistry between Abe-era Washington and Tokyo was back.
“She’s very happy,” Trump told business leaders at the end of the day’s activities. “I got to know her pretty well in a short period of time.”
It is unusual for President Trump to show such warmth toward foreign leaders, especially those of countries that have survived tariff wars. It is equally rare for Japan’s prime minister to display such open affection on the world stage.
It certainly helps that the two of you can see eye to eye on some political issues. Both are right-wing conservatives who support military buildup and a tough stance on China. Their shared ties to Prime Minister Abe also help explain their closeness. Prime Minister Abe was one of President Trump’s “close friends” in world politics and Takaichi’s political mentor.
But behind the photo ops and nostalgia, there is also a strategic alliance born of mutual necessity. In particular, both leaders are eyeing the same enemy in Beijing.
For President Trump, having a staunch ally in the Asia-Pacific region ready to take a tough stance against China is a clear victory. Takaichi is a longtime China hawk who has long criticized Beijing’s military expansion and economic coercion. Her hard-line stance fits perfectly with President Trump’s “America First” worldview.
They also announced a new framework for rare earths, aimed at reducing China’s dependence on China’s near-monopoly on critical resources. Although the details were vague, the message of cooperation was clear. Japan still remembers the “rare earth shock” of 2010, when the Chinese government suspended exports due to territorial disputes. Since then, Takaichi has made ensuring a stable supply chain a key part of his economic agenda.
Trade and investment also featured heavily at the summit. Japan has committed about $490 billion in investments to the United States, led by companies in AI, semiconductors, defense and advanced manufacturing, as part of a broader trade deal already agreed by allies in September.
For Mr. Trump, who values loyalty and long remembers being despised, his allegiance to Japan solidified early in his first term. Prime Minister Abe paid close attention to the development of Japan-U.S. relations at a time when the president did not have much support on the world stage.
Foreign dignitaries and leaders publicly mocked the president during his speech to the United Nations General Assembly in 2018. In 2019, a group of NATO leaders were caught on camera gossiping about him.
But Prime Minister Abe groomed his American counterpart with thoughtful behavior that directly affected President Trump’s interests, including multiple golf outings, the pomp and atmosphere of state dinners, and a trip to a sumo tournament where President Trump awarded the winner the “President’s Cup.”
Trump maintained close ties with Prime Minister Abe until his assassination in 2022, and hosted his widow at Mar-a-Lago last year.
That goodwill paved the way for Takaichi’s success on Wednesday.
“He really likes her,” said a senior Trump administration official who observed their interactions behind closed doors.
Takaichi also benefited from timing, as he took office after President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs rocked markets and caused him to reconsider his alliance with the United States, shielding him from entanglements with the Trump administration in trade deal negotiations.
For Takaichi, standing shoulder to shoulder with President Trump will strengthen his position domestically. Her approval ratings have soared since taking office, but her ruling party still lacks a parliamentary majority after recent election defeats. The public’s dissatisfaction with past scandals also persists. Projecting Japan’s influence overseas and reaffirming its ties with Washington will help her rebuild her political capital.
For Trump, the optics are just as valuable. Strengthening its close alliance with the Japanese government would provide diplomatic momentum for more contentious talks with China’s Xi Jinping. It’s also a reminder to Beijing that it has no shortage of powerful friends in the region.
