Trump’s relations with the new Japanese Prime Minister, and the unveiling of major Japanese investment projects in the United States

TOKYO (AP) — President Donald Trump treated his time in Japan Tuesday as a victory lap — befriending Japan’s new prime minister and taking it with him as he spoke to U.S. troops aboard an aircraft carrier and then unveiling several major energy and technology projects in America funded by Japan.

He watches: Trump’s Asian tour takes him to Japan before a pivotal meeting with Chinese President Xi

Sanae Takaishi, who became the country’s first female prime minister just days ago, has strengthened her relationship with Trump while defending her country’s economic interests. She talked baseball, parked a Ford F-150 truck outside their meeting and greeted Trump with, in his estimation, a firm handshake.

By the end of the day, Trump – by his administration’s calculations – came close to achieving a Japanese investment target of $550 billion as part of a trade framework. At a dinner for business leaders in Tokyo, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced commitments of up to $490 billion, including $100 billion each for nuclear projects involving Westinghouse and GL Vernova.

“You are great businessmen,” Trump told the assembled executives before dinner. “Our country will not let you down.”

It was not immediately clear how the investments would work and how they would compare to previous plans, but Trump declared victory at the end of a day of engagement with Takaishi.

Trump and Japanese Prime Minister exchange warm words

The pleasantries began as soon as the two leaders met on Tuesday morning. “It’s a very strong handshake,” Trump told Takaishi.

She talked about watching Game 3 of the US World Series before the event, and said Japan would give Washington 250 cherry trees and fireworks for the Fourth of July celebrations to mark America’s 250th anniversary next year.

Takaichi stressed her ties to the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, her conservative mentor who struck up a friendship with Trump during his first term through their shared interest in golf.

“As a matter of fact, Prime Minister Abe has often told me about your dynamic diplomacy,” she said, later gifting Trump a racket that Abe uses.

Trump told her that being Japan’s first female prime minister was “important” and said the United States was committed to Japan. While the president is known for not shying away from publicly reprimanding his foreign counterparts, he had nothing but praise for Takaishi.

“Anything I can do to help Japan, we will be there,” Trump said. “We are an ally at the strongest level.”

Takaichi pulled off a charm offensive, serving American beef and rice mixed with Japanese ingredients during a working lunch, where the two leaders also discussed efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. White House press secretary Carolyn Levitt told reporters that Takaishi would nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The two leaders signed black baseball caps that said “Japan is back”, similar to Trump’s red hats that said “Make America Great Again.”

Reporters arriving for the meeting were jostled in front of a gold Ford F-150 outside Akasaka Palace, the Tokyo guest house for visiting foreign leaders.

Trump has often complained that Japan does not buy American cars, which are often too wide to be practical on narrow Japanese streets. But the Japanese government is considering purchasing a fleet of Ford trucks to inspect roads and infrastructure.

They pledged a “golden age” of alliance and cooperation in critical minerals

The two leaders signed the implementation of the “Golden Era” agreement for their countries’ alliance, a short confirmation of the framework under which the United States will impose a 15% tax on goods imported from Japan while Japan establishes a $550 billion fund for investments in the United States.

Later, at a dinner at the US Embassy in Tokyo packed with CEOs including Apple’s Tim Cook, Trump relished the deals. Trump and Takaishi also signed an agreement to cooperate in the field of important minerals and rare earths.

Trump has centered his foreign policy toward Asia around tariffs and trade, but he also spoke Tuesday aboard the USS George Washington, an aircraft carrier docked at a U.S. naval base near Tokyo. He brought President Takaishi with him and she also spoke as Japan planned to increase its military spending.

The president spoke about individual units on the aircraft carrier, his political opponents, national security, and the American economy, saying that Takaishi told him that Toyota would invest $10 billion in automobile factories in America.

Trump arrived in Tokyo on Monday, where he met the emperor for a ceremonial visit after a short trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to attend the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Trump is scheduled to leave Japan on Wednesday for South Korea, which is hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. Trump intends to meet with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung.

Trump is expected to conclude his Asian tour on Thursday with an expected meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. There were signs that tensions between the United States and China were beginning to ease ahead of the scheduled meeting in South Korea. Lead negotiators from each country said a trade agreement had been reached, which could prevent a potentially damaging confrontation between the world’s two largest economies.

Megerian reported from Seoul, South Korea. Mayuko Ono and Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report.