By: The Trek News Desk
US President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ahead of the snap general elections scheduled in Japan. Taking to his social media platform Truth Social on Thursday, Trump described Takaichi as a “strong, capable and wise leader” who genuinely cares about her country.
Trump stated that Takaichi has already demonstrated leadership qualities and expressed confidence that she would not disappoint the Japanese people.
While it is uncommon for American presidents to openly support candidates in foreign elections, Trump has made similar moves in the past. He previously backed Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Since taking office, Prime Minister Takaichi has actively worked to build closer relations with Trump, aiming to bring greater stability to Japan’s ties with Washington. This effort gained importance after the Trump administration earlier warned of imposing steep trade tariffs on Japanese goods.
Initially, Trump had threatened to levy a 25% tariff on Japanese imports. However, in July, both nations reached a compromise under which Japan agreed to invest $550 billion in the United States. In return, US import duties were reduced to 15%.
Takaichi, 64, assumed office in October after winning her party’s leadership contest and securing parliamentary backing. Despite holding sufficient support, she opted to dissolve parliament last month and call early elections to seek a direct public mandate.
Just a week after becoming prime minister, Takaichi hosted Donald Trump in Tokyo. He was welcomed at the Akasaka Palace with full military honours, marking her first major diplomatic engagement on the global stage.
Both leaders share a common stance on national security, agreeing that Japan should increase its defence spending. With regional security concerns on the rise, public opinion in Japan has also shifted toward greater investment in self-defence capabilities.
During their meetings, Trump and Takaichi exchanged praise and signed agreements related to rare earth minerals. They also issued a joint declaration promoting a new “golden era” in US-Japan relations.
Trump’s endorsement is being seen as a strategic signal not only to Japanese voters but also to the broader Asia-Pacific region, particularly China. Relations between Beijing and Tokyo remain strained and are considered to be at their lowest point in over a decade.
China strongly criticised Takaichi last November after she suggested that Japan could take defensive action if China were to attack Taiwan. She has since refused to retract those remarks.
The endorsement came shortly after Trump held a phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which Trump described US-China relations as “very good” and emphasised the importance of maintaining stability.
Opinion polls currently suggest a decisive victory for Takaichi’s party, but winning the upcoming election will only be the first hurdle. Her leadership will be tested by Japan’s sluggish economy, the need to maintain strong security cooperation with the United States, and managing sensitive relations with China, Japan’s largest trading partner.
Source: News Agencies
