President Donald Trump met Japan’s newly appointed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo on Tuesday, signing a U.S.–Japan framework on rare earths and other critical minerals while highlighting a previously announced tariff-and-investment deal. The leaders later addressed thousands of U.S. troops aboard the USS George Washington and pledged a "golden age" for the alliance amid rising regional tensions.
President Trump arrived in Tokyo on Monday, Oct. 27, after attending the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and met Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi the next day at the Akasaka Palace state guesthouse. Takaichi — Japan’s first female premier — invoked her late mentor, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, telling Trump: “As a matter of fact, Prime Minister Abe often told me about your dynamic diplomacy.” Trump, who praised her “strong handshake,” said the United States would be “an ally at the strongest level.”
A gold-hued Ford F‑150 pickup was parked prominently outside the palace — an unmistakable signal on a long‑sensitive issue for Trump. Reuters reported Tokyo has been weighing purchases of F‑150s — potentially for snow‑plow use — alongside increased imports of U.S. soybeans and gas. Trump later called it “a hot truck” and said Toyota planned to invest more than $10 billion in U.S. auto plants — a claim he attributed to Takaichi; Toyota did not immediately comment.
Talks and gestures of goodwill
- Agenda: The leaders discussed trade, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the decades‑old plight of families of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea. Trump also met several abductees’ relatives at Akasaka Palace.
- Gifts and lunch: In a nod to Abe’s ties with Trump, Takaichi presented a putter used by Abe and a golf bag signed by Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama. A working lunch featured American beef and rice prepared with Japanese ingredients.
- Cherry trees and fireworks: Takaichi said Japan would donate 250 cherry trees to Washington for the U.S. semiquincentennial in 2026 — echoing a pledge first announced by then‑Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in 2024 — and noted plans for July 4 fireworks sourced from Akita Prefecture next year, according to local and wire reports.
What they signed — and what they didn’t
- Critical minerals and energy: Trump and Takaichi signed a framework on rare earths and other critical minerals aimed at reducing reliance on China. The agreement envisions coordinated policies, possible joint or complementary stockpiling, and cooperation with international partners. A factsheet underscored parallel cooperation on next‑generation nuclear power, including potential AP1000 reactors and small modular reactors in the United States with involvement from companies such as Westinghouse, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Toshiba Group and others.
- Trade framework: The leaders also reaffirmed the U.S.–Japan trade framework announced in July and implemented by executive action in early September. Under that framework, the United States applies a 15% baseline tariff on most Japanese imports; auto tariffs, specifically, are being reduced to 15% from 27.5% on a separate timeline, while steel and aluminum retain distinct rates. Japan, in turn, pledged a major U.S.-bound investment program. Officials on both sides have described a $550 billion investment vehicle backed largely by government loans and guarantees; a Japanese government fact sheet lists early project proposals across energy, AI infrastructure, and critical minerals. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said initial pledges total “nearly $490 billion,” according to Bloomberg, though that launch‑phase figure is not specified in government documents.
Aboard the USS George Washington
Later Tuesday, Trump and Takaichi addressed roughly 6,000 U.S. and Japanese service members aboard the USS George Washington at Yokosuka. “The cherished alliance between the United States and Japan is one of the most remarkable relationships in the entire world… It’s the foundation of peace and security in the Pacific,” Trump said. Takaichi vowed to strengthen Japan’s defenses, saying, “Peace cannot be preserved by words alone. It can be protected only when there is unwavering determination and action.”
Defense and security signals
- Spending: Days earlier, in her first policy address, Takaichi said Japan would reach defense outlays of about 2% of GDP by the end of the current fiscal year (March 2026), accelerating a target originally set for 2027. (Japan’s defense‑related spending has recently been around 1.6–1.8% of GDP.)
- Missiles: Trump said he had approved a “batch of missiles” for Japan’s F‑35s. Separately, Washington in January approved a potential sale of up to 1,200 AIM‑120 AMRAAM air‑to‑air missiles to Japan, underscoring Tokyo’s ongoing modernization.
Political theater and next steps
- Nobel nomination: The White House said Takaichi plans to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
- Asia itinerary: Trump is slated to depart for South Korea on Wednesday and meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday to try to advance a trade deal.
Context and caveats
- Toyota investment: Trump’s remark that Toyota would invest “over $10 billion” in new U.S. plants is his claim; the company did not immediately confirm.
- Investment framework: The governments released a joint project list tied to the $550 billion investment initiative; some figures cited publicly (such as a “launch phase” near $490 billion) were attributed by U.S. officials to preliminary, proposed commitments and may evolve as projects are vetted.