US President Donald Trump gives his “complete and total endorsement” to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi two days before a snap election.
TOKYO: US President Donald Trump offered his “Complete and Total Endorsement” to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Friday, just two days before snap elections in Japan.
Trump announced on Truth Social that Takaichi, whom he called a “strong, powerful, and wise Leader”, would visit the United States on March 19.
He said the two nations were working on a “very substantial” trade deal and collaborating on national security.
While US presidents typically avoid endorsing foreign candidates, Trump has previously backed leaders like Argentina’s Javier Milei and Hungary’s Viktor Orban.
Takaichi, Japan’s first woman prime minister, took office in October and is hoping for a strong mandate in Sunday’s lower house election.
Pollsters suggest her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) could romp home with a super-majority, potentially winning over 300 of the 465 seats.
Together with its coalition partner, this could give Takaichi’s ruling bloc a two-thirds majority in parliament.
Professor Jeff Kingston said her “gamble will pay handsome dividends as she will gain a strong mandate” for economic and security reforms.
Takaichi has injected new energy into the LDP, which was deserted by voters partly due to inflation and a slush fund scandal.
She also boasts strong support among young people in Japan’s ageing political landscape.
However, her policies have rattled markets over worries about Japan’s colossal debt, which is more than double the size of its economy.
This stems from her $135 billion stimulus package and tax cut pledges, pushing yields on long-dated government bonds to record highs.
Economist Abhijit Surya said he was not worried Takaichi would be “fiscally profligate”, expecting bond markets to act as a check.
Takaichi has also angered China by suggesting Japan would intervene militarily if Beijing sought to take self-ruled Taiwan by force.
She warmly welcomed Trump to Japan shortly after taking office, endorsing him for the Nobel Peace Prize and gifting golf memorabilia.
The two leaders reached a trade deal in July, with Washington lowering tariffs on Japanese goods to 15% from a threatened 25%.
