President Donald Trump is meeting with Japan’s newly elected, ultraconservative leader in Tokyo during one of the busiest days of his Asia trip.
U.S. President Donald Trump is meeting with Japan’s newly elected, ultraconservative leader in Tokyo during one of the busiest days of his Asia trip.
Just days after taking office, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi may look to build a personal connection with Trump to ease trade tensions. One key to this strategy might be an idea floated by Japan’s government to buy a fleet of American Ford F-150 trucks.
His itinerary for Tuesday also includes speaking to U.S. troops aboard an aircraft carrier and mingling with business leaders.
During his trip through Asia, Trump has focused mostly on discussing trade with world leaders, aiming to highlight America’s influence on the global economy.
Here’s the latest:
The White House says Takaichi told Trump that she’s nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Doing so has become a common occurrence among foreign leaders looking to impress Trump, with several backing his nomination — or at least promising to do so — in recent months.
Trump also got nominated on this trip by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Monday.
The president didn’t win the Nobel Peace Prize this year. But he’s noted that the awards committee made its decision before he helped broker a ceasefire that has halted the fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
As Trump and Takaichi emerged from their bilateral meeting, a dozen people were seated on both sides of the room, holding pictures of family members.
The White House said that they were relatives who had loved ones abducted by North Korea.
Trump also met with families of Japanese who were abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s during a visit to Japan during his first term in 2019. He suggested some of the same relatives were on-hand on Tuesday, saying, “I remember all these beautiful faces.”
“I’m with them all the way,” Trump said. “And the U.S. is with them.”
One agreement aimed to strengthen the supply chain of rare earths and other critical minerals, a move showcasing coordination between the two allies amid the U.S.
