Tokyo — Former US President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ahead of a snap election on Sunday, praising her leadership and signaling strong alignment with Washington.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump described Takaichi as a “strong, powerful, and wise leader… one that truly loves her country,” adding that “she will not let the people of Japan down.” While rare for a US president to weigh in on foreign elections, Trump has previously endorsed Argentina’s Javier Milei and Hungary’s Viktor Orban.
Takaichi, 64, assumed office in October after winning her party’s leadership race and securing parliamentary support. She called the snap election to seek a direct public mandate, consolidating her authority in a period of diplomatic and economic turbulence.
Trump’s endorsement underscores the growing strategic alignment between Washington and Tokyo, particularly on defence and trade. The two leaders have cultivated a close relationship since Takaichi’s inauguration, highlighted by a visit aboard the USS George Washington, where the Japanese leader joined Trump in front of thousands of US troops.
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Economic ties have also strengthened. In July, Japan agreed to invest $550 billion in the US, prompting Washington to reduce threatened tariffs from 25% to 15%, easing tensions over trade. Trump and Takaichi also signed agreements on rare earths and national security cooperation, describing the moment as the dawn of a “new golden era” in US-Japan relations.
The endorsement comes amid rising regional tensions, particularly with China. Takaichi has signaled a willingness for Japan to expand its self-defence capabilities in response to potential threats from Beijing over Taiwan. Trump’s message to Japanese voters appears to reinforce Tokyo’s resolve while sending a signal to Beijing, following his recent phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, in which both leaders emphasised the importance of managing US-China relations carefully.
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Polls currently predict a comfortable victory for Takaichi, but analysts caution that winning the election is only the first of several challenges. Her administration will face scrutiny over Japan’s economic recovery, navigating its largest trading partnership with China, and maintaining strong security ties with the US in an increasingly volatile region.
Trump confirmed that he will welcome Takaichi to the White House on 19 March, a visit expected to further cement the personal and political rapport between the two leaders.