Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump shared a cordial atmosphere during their initial meeting on Friday, with Japan currently avoiding the tariffs that Trump has imposed on other allies. At the White House, the two leaders exchanged compliments and committed to collaborating against Chinese “aggression,” while also addressing a stalled deal involving troubled U.S. Steel.
Trump urged Ishiba to reduce the U.S. trade deficit with Japan to zero, cautioning that Japan could still face tariffs on its exports if it did not comply. Ishiba, a self-proclaimed “geek” and enthusiast of model warships, is under pressure to cultivate a close relationship with Trump similar to that of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was also a golf companion of the U.S. president.
Both leaders expressed that they had developed a rapport during Ishiba’s visit, which marked only the second time a foreign leader has met with Trump in his current term. Ishiba remarked at their joint press conference, “I was so excited to see such a celebrity on television in person,” while clarifying that he was not trying to flatter Trump. He noted that while Trump appears intimidating on television, he found him to be sincere and powerful in person.
As they exchanged photographs, Trump complimented the 68-year-old Japanese leader as “good looking,” a high form of praise from the former reality TV star. When Ishiba declined to answer a hypothetical question about retaliating against U.S. tariffs, Trump responded with laughter, saying, “that’s a very good answer.”
Trump announced that Japan’s Nippon Steel would make a significant investment in U.S. Steel but would not acquire the troubled company as previously discussed. “They’ll be looking at an investment rather than a purchase,” Trump stated, noting that his predecessor, Joe Biden, had blocked the earlier deal.
The two leaders reaffirmed the longstanding U.S.-Japan relationship in security and trade, despite concerns that Trump might turn against Tokyo as he has with other allies. They agreed to combat “Chinese economic aggression” and condemned Beijing for its “provocative activities” in the contested South China Sea in a joint statement. They also called for a denuclearized North Korea, with Trump expressing a desire to maintain “relations” with Pyongyang.
In the backdrop of Trump’s supportive remarks were Japan’s commitments to a $1 trillion investment in the U.S. and increased purchases of U.S. defense equipment. Ishiba emphasized that Japan is the largest investor in the U.S. and would enhance its spending. The soft-spoken Ishiba, who is known for smoking cigarettes, rushed to Washington in hopes of mitigating the impact of Trump’s “America first” policies. Under Abe, Japan had been somewhat insulated from some of Trump’s more aggressive approaches, such as abrupt trade wars and demands for increased financial contributions for hosting U.S. troops.
