Trump Receives Warm Welcome From Japan's Emperor
During his recent trip to Asia, President Trump was warmly received in Japan. The visit to Japan is part of a five-day tour of Asia, during which Mr. Trump is hoping to secure an agreement to end the trade war with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The President, who embarked on his longest foreign trip since assuming office, has already secured deals with four Southeast Asian countries, starting in Malaysia. He is also expected to meet with President Xi during a stopover in South Korea.
Upon landing in Japan, President Trump exchanged pleasantries with officials, enthusiastically celebrated his arrival, and then took off in a helicopter for a nighttime tour of Tokyo. Later, his convoy was spotted entering the Imperial Palace, where he had the honor of meeting Emperor Naruhito.
This visit has already proven fruitful for Trump as he managed to secure a $550-billion investment pledge from Japan. This comes as a relief from the harsh import tariffs imposed earlier.
New Prime Minister Hopes to Strengthen Ties
Sanae Takaichi, Japan's newly-elected Prime Minister, is hoping to further enhance relations with Trump. She has proposed plans to purchase American pickup trucks, soybeans, and gas, and has discussed a potential agreement on shipbuilding.
Takaichi, who recently made history as Japan's first female Prime Minister, has communicated to Trump that strengthening their countries' alliance is her utmost priority. This was during a phone conversation they had over the weekend.
Trump expressed his eagerness to meet Takaichi, who was a close associate of his late friend and golfing companion, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. "I think she's going to be great", he added.
Other Developments
Meanwhile, the US and China are on the verge of agreeing on a trade deal framework. This comes just before the scheduled meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The deal is expected to eliminate the threat of imposing 100% tariffs on Chinese imports starting from November and will also include a final agreement on the sale of a popular social media app in the US.
On the first day of his Asia tour, Trump oversaw the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia. This agreement aims to resolve a deadly conflict that took place in July. The signing occurred during a ceremony under a sign that read "Delivering Peace".
However, not all news has been positive. The Council of American-Islamic Relations has criticized the Trump administration for detaining British journalist, Sami Hamdi. The civil rights organization for Muslims claimed that Hamdi was detained for criticizing Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza while at San Francisco airport. Hamdi is among a number of individuals who have been arrested and deported for expressing pro-Palestinian views.
On the same day his supporters attacked the US Capitol, Trump reportedly called his then vice-president, Mike Pence, and told him he would be remembered as a "wimp" if he certified the election result. This revelation comes from a recently published book.
Lastly, in an interview, California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom revealed that he is considering running for president in 2028. He stated he would make a decision after the 2026 midterm elections. "Yeah, I’d be lying otherwise," Newsom admitted when asked if he would seriously consider a White House bid after the 2026 elections.
