by Melissa Chen at X
This was Sanae Takaichi’s first diplomatic test as PM of Japan and she handled it flawlessly.
It is safe to say that never in history has the US and Japan found itself so fond of each other, and so aligned in mutual interests – unprecedented economic and trade commitments, national security and military alliance, and shared strategic focus on countering China and North Korea.
Here’s what PM Takaichi did during Trump’s visit:
> invited Trump to bond over baseball before formal talks by putting on the World Series (featuring Japanese star Shohei Ohtani’s LA Dodgers)
> gifted Trump former PM Shinzo Abe’s golf putter. Shinzo is his late friend and golfing buddy, and after Trump’s assassination, their bromance became so sensationalized that it was turned into a meme. This sentimental gesture reinforced the “special relationship” and endeared her to Trump as Shinzo’s protege
> publicly nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize during their talks, highlighting his role in negotiating ceasefires globally
> echoed Trump’s rhetoric by committing to a “new golden age” for the alliance, calling it the “greatest in the world.” This mirrored his grandiose phrasing while elevating their partnership, prompting Trump to call her a “winner” and predict she’d be one of Japan’s “greatest prime ministers”
> inked an implementation agreement for trade and investment, including a rare earths pact to secure supply chains away from China. Takaichi presented a map of Japan’s $550 billion+ investments in the US, emphasizing job creation and reciprocity – directly addressing Trump’s fixation on fair trade and reducing deficits
> showed off an array of Ford F-150 trucks on the palace grounds (Japan has historically been protectionist with their homegrown automobile brands)
> vowed to fundamentally fast track Japan’s defense spending to 2% of GDP and countering Chinese aggression in the South China Sea via joint alliances. She joined Trump onstage at Yokosuka Naval Base and addressed US troops – producing some iconic visuals
All in all, this was a masterclass
Here’s to the a new era in – relations!
Continue ReadingThis was Sanae Takaichi’s first diplomatic test as PM of Japan and she handled it flawlessly.
It is safe to say that never in history has the US and Japan found itself so fond of each other, and so aligned in mutual interests – unprecedented economic and trade commitments,… pic.twitter.com/zSt8ocq5hs
— Melissa Chen (@MsMelChen) October 28, 2025