TOKYO: US President Donald Trump gave \u200bhis \u201ctotal endorsement\u201d of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ahead of a national election in Japan on Sunday, adding he looked forward to hosting her at the White House next month.<\/p>\n
Japan\u2019s first female premier, a conservative who said she draws inspiration from Britain\u2019s \u201cIron Lady\u201d Margaret Thatcher, was already expected to deliver a solid win for her ruling coalition, according to opinion polls. She is seeking a public mandate for spending plans that have rattled investors, and a defense build-up that could further strain relations with China.<\/p>\n
Takaichi\u2019s Liberal Democratic Party and its partner, the Japan Innovation Party, known as Ishin, could capture around 300 seats in the 465-seat lower house of parliament, the polls show, well up from the razor-thin majority they now control.<\/p>\n
TRUMP\u2019S BACKING A TAILWIND FOR TAKAICHI<\/p>\n
\u201cPrime Minister Takaichi is someone who deserves powerful recognition for the job she and her Coalition are doing,\u201d Trump posted \u200con his Truth \u200cSocial platform on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is my Honor to give a Complete and Total Endorsement \u200cof her, \u2060and what \u200bher highly \u200crespected Coalition is representing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unlike his predecessors, Trump has increasingly sought to shape foreign elections. Analysts say his backing of Takaichi, 64, a nationalist and defense hawk, fits a growing pattern of aligning with right-wing leaders abroad.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, he endorsed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for a vote there in April and last year backed Argentine President Javier \u202fMilei, highlighting US financial support as a factor in Milei\u2019s 2025 legislative success.<\/p>\n
Even though Takaichi already appears poised for a commanding victory, Trump\u2019s endorsement will resonate in Japan, Asuka Tatebayashi, a geopolitical analyst at Mizuho Bank said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the perspective of the business community, improved relations and better recognition by Trump will be seen as a positive,\u201d Tatebayashi said. \u201cAnd even among the general population, Trump is surprisingly popular in Japan compared to some western countries.\u201d<\/p>\n
Japanese \u2060government spokesman Kei Sato declined to comment on Trump\u2019s endorsement but confirmed that Trump had invited Takaichi to visit Washington on March 19.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmid a rapidly changing international situation, the visit is expected \u200cto provide an opportunity to reaffirm the unwavering bonds of the Japan\u2013US alliance,\u201d Sato told \u200da regular press conference.<\/p>\n
One of Takaichi\u2019s first engagements after she was \u200delevated to prime minister in October was to host Trump in Tokyo.<\/p>\n
She gave him a putter used by his former golfing buddy, \u200dthe late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Lauded by Trump for breaking Japan\u2019s glass ceiling, Takaichi pledged billions of dollars in investments in a meeting analysts said helped underline the strength of the Japan-US alliance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TOKYO: US President Donald Trump gave \u200bhis \u201ctotal endorsement\u201d of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ahead of a national election in Japan on Sunday, adding he looked forward to hosting her at the White House next month. Japan\u2019s first female premier, a conservative who said she draws inspiration from Britain\u2019s \u201cIron Lady\u201d Margaret Thatcher, was already […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":529825,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-529813","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n