President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pose for reporters at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, Oct. 28, 2025. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)
TOKYO — Weapons sales and trade in critical minerals were on the agenda when President Donald Trump met new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the Japanese capital Tuesday morning.
Trump arrived Monday after a stop in Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit. He and Takaichi met in an ornate conference room at Akasaka Palace, a state guest house, alongside top leaders from their governments. Just outside were parked gleaming new American and Japanese pickup trucks.
The Japanese government is considering the purchase of a fleet of Ford F-150s.
“She has good taste,” Trump, referring to Takaichi, told reporters on Air Force One during the flight to Asia. “That’s a hot truck.”
Trump and Takaichi met elsewhere in the palace to sign a new agreement strengthening their alliance and a framework for securing a U.S. supply of critical minerals and rare earths — key materials for the defense and technology industries.
President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sign documents laying out a U.S.-Japan framework for securing the supply of critical minerals and rare earths at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, Oct. 28, 2025. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)
Takaichi kicked off the meeting by thanking Trump for his enduring friendship of Shinzo Abe, the late Japanese prime minister whom, she said, told her about the U.S. leader’s dynamic diplomacy. Takaichi served as a cabinet minister under Abe and is regarded as his protege.
“Shinzo Abe was a great friend of mine,” Trump replied, adding that he was saddened and shocked by his friend’s death. Abe was assassinated in July 2022.
Takaichi praised Trump’s recent peacemaking efforts in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
She noted the United States’ upcoming 250th anniversary and said Japan would send 250 cherry trees to Washington, D.C. Fireworks from Japan’s Akita prefecture would be sent there for next year’s July Fourth celebration, she added.
Tokyo Skytree is lit up in red, white and blue on Oct. 27, 2025, the day President Donald Trump arrived in Japan for the second leg of his Asia trip. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)
Takaichi told Trump she would continue to strive to strengthen Japan’s national power — namely diplomacy, defense capability, economic power, technology, intelligence and human resources.
Since 2022, Japan has been growing its defense budget to 2% of gross domestic product and developing a counterstrike capability with long-range missiles.
Tokyo faces a rapid military buildup by China, which routinely challenges Japan’s hold on territory in the East China Sea and demonstrates its ability to invade Taiwan.
Trump said the U.S. has received orders from Japan for a large amount of military equipment and noted that America makes the best equipment, including jets and missiles.
“Hopefully we don’t ever have to use them very much, if at all,” he said.
Trump flies on Wednesday to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and a sideline meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Trump added that he has always had great love and respect for Japan.
“This will be a relationship that will be stronger than ever before,” he said. “We are an ally at the strongest level.”
Trump said Takaichi will be one of the great prime ministers and congratulated her on being Japan’s first female prime minister.
“That’s a big deal,” he said. “We are going to have a fantastic relationship.”
