Donald Trump has endorsed Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ahead of a snap election in her country on Sunday.
Takaichi has already proven to be a strong, powerful, and wise leader... one that truly loves her country, the US president wrote in a Truth Social post on Thursday, adding: She will not let the people of Japan down!
While it is rare for US presidents to publicly back candidates in foreign elections, Trump has done so before, endorsing Argentina's Javier Milei and Hungary's Viktor Orban most recently.
Takaichi has courted the US president as Tokyo seeks more stability in its relationship with Washington, its closest ally, in the wake of Trump's tariffs.
Trump had threatened a 25% tariff initially, but Japan then struck a deal in July to invest $550bn (£407bn) in the US. In exchange, Washington lowered import levies to 15%.
Takaichi, 64, became PM in October after she won the leadership race in her party and secured enough support in parliament. However, she called for a last-month election to seek a public mandate.
Just one week after she took office, Tokyo rolled out the red carpet for Trump, deploying a full military guard of honour and a band to welcome him at the Akasaka Palace, the government's state guesthouse.
It was her diplomatic debut, with Takaichi aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, fists pumping as the US president praised her in front of thousands of US soldiers, the images then broadcast around the world.
She sought to portray herself as a leader Trump can and wants to do business with, and someone he gets along with personally.
The two leaders also see eye-to-eye on defense. Trump wants Tokyo to spend more on its own security, and so does Takaichi, as sentiment grows in Japan that it must invest more in defense.
They heaped compliments on each other during the visit and signed a deal on rare earths, as well as a document heralding a new golden age of US-Japan relations. Takaichi described Trump as a partner in a new golden era and praised his role in bringing peace to the Middle East.
Trump's post signals that Takaichi is a leader his administration would work with, aimed not only at Japanese voters but also the region, especially in the face of China. Beijing and Tokyo currently face a diplomatic rift, with comments from Takaichi earlier hinting at self-defense in response to a potential attack on Taiwan leading to tensions.
Polls indicate a favorable outcome for Takaichi, but winning the election will pose its own challenges as she navigates Japan's stagnant economy and its relationships with both the US and China.
