Trump backs Japan's Takaichi before election, unveils her March U.S. visit
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 Kyodo - U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday gave his full endorsement to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ahead of the country's general election and said he would welcome her to the White House on March 19.
While Trump is often an outlier, it is very rare for the leader of any country to back a specific political figure ahead of a national election in a foreign country. Calling Sunday's election "very important" for Japan's future, he praised Takaichi for already proving to be a "strong, powerful and wise" leader.
In a social media post, Trump also said he and his team were impressed with her when they met in Japan about three months ago.
"Prime Minister Takaichi is someone who deserves powerful recognition for the job she and her Coalition are doing and, therefore, as President of the United States of America, it is my Honor to give a Complete and Total Endorsement of her, and what her highly respected Coalition is representing," Trump wrote.
The date of Trump's upcoming in-person talks with Takaichi was announced for the first time.
In late December, Takaichi said she was exploring a visit to the United States for another meeting with Trump, and the two leaders confirmed during their early January phone call that they would meet in the spring.
Takaichi's maiden trip to the United States since becoming prime minister in October will coincide with Washington's iconic annual cherry blossom festival, which this year will begin on March 20, a day after the planned White House meeting.
The festival commemorates the 1912 gift of cherry trees from Tokyo to the U.S. capital and the longtime friendship between the two countries.
When Takaichi, Japan's first female prime minister, hosted Trump in Tokyo in late October, they expressed their intention to celebrate together in 2026 the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. At the time, she confirmed Japan's promise to donate 250 cherry trees to the United States.
Just as they did last time, Takaichi and Trump are likely to reaffirm the strength of the Japan-U.S. security alliance and economic relationship. In a symbolic gesture, they could also plant a couple of the cherry trees together.
Trump has extolled Takaichi since her early days in office as a protegee of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with whom the president had a close personal relationship during his first term.
In addition to wishing her "good luck" in the House of Representatives election, Trump's message on Thursday highlighted the progress that the United States and Japan have made in defense cooperation and on the economic front, thanks to a "very substantial" trade deal.
The deal reached last summer following Trump's tariff threat includes a Japanese commitment to invest $550 billion in U.S. strategic sectors, such as semiconductors and critical minerals.
Trump is expected to celebrate some forthcoming projects under the package with Takaichi, who has pledged to pursue a "new golden era" for the two countries.
Takaichi's trip to Washington will precede Trump's planned April visit to China, which for months has been taking a hard-line stance over her remarks about a potential Taiwan Strait crisis.
Trump's social media post about Japan came a day after he had a lengthy call with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
China's Foreign Ministry quoted Trump as saying that the U.S.-China relationship is "by far the most important in the world."
Xi, meanwhile, stressed that Taiwan is the "most important issue" in Sino-U.S. relations, according to the ministry.
China views Taiwan as its own territory and has not ruled out the use of force to take control of the self-governed democratic island.
Unlike past presidents, Trump rarely comments publicly on Taiwan and other issues that the Chinese government deems politically sensitive.
It remains to be seen how extensively Trump will discuss the situation surrounding Taiwan with Takaichi. But the ongoing efforts of Japan and the United States to strengthen the alliance's deterrence capabilities and reduce their dependence on China for rare earths are almost certain to be among the main topics of conversation when they meet in person next.
==Kyodo
