Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba commended President Donald Trump during their recent meeting at the White House. The conversation began with a reference to a striking image captured in July of the previous year—an image showing Trump after a near-assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, where he was visibly affected by an attack on his ear, with the American flag in the backdrop. Ishiba pointed to the photograph as a historical moment and suggested it underscored a divine selection in Trump's life.
During the discussion, Ishiba recalled the brief period of camaraderie between Trump and the late Shinzo Abe, Japan’s former prime minister who lost his life in a tragic shooting in 2022. He mentioned that Trump had extended a personal invitation to Abe’s widow to visit his retreat in Florida and noted his personal impact by a book titled “Peace” that he received through her. Ishiba also offered an interpretation of Trump’s renowned slogan “Make America Great Again,” proposing it reflected a profound empathy for those often overlooked rather than being solely a partisan statement.
Throughout the joint news conference, Ishiba maintained a sober demeanor, speaking deliberately as he aligned himself with Trump’s viewpoints, despite some underlying tensions regarding Japan’s independent defense policies. The prime minister reiterated that Japan’s decisions on defense spending should remain autonomously driven, a stance that emerges despite acknowledging the potential for expanded US-Japan cooperation against regional challenges like China’s military assertiveness.
The meeting, which lasted around 110 minutes and included a working lunch, culminated in significant announcements on economic and energy fronts. Ishiba revealed plans for a substantial increase in Japanese investments in the United States and outlined Japan’s intentions to boost its purchases of liquified natural gas from the U.S., both of which aim to secure energy stability and reduce Japan’s trade deficit. The dialogue concluded with mutual agreement on strengthening defense ties, reinforcing the commitment of both nations to address security concerns in the Pacific region.