The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is considering treating Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi as a state guest during her possible visit to the United States this spring, sources in the Japanese and U.S. governments said on Friday. This reception could highlight the close ties between the two governments ahead of Trump's planned trip to China in April.
The Trump administration is eyeing a visit by Takaichi, who took office last year, around Japan's three-day weekend in late March. The U.S. plans include a welcoming ceremony, an official banquet, and other events for the Japanese leader. However, the itinerary could be adjusted or canceled based on the results of Japan's general election on February 8.
Trump has praised Takaichi as a strong leader, and she continues to enjoy high public approval ratings. In the lead-up to the U.S. midterm elections in November, Trump may press Japan to boost its defense spending and increase investments in the United States.
Among Takaichi's predecessors, Fumio Kishida received an official invitation from then-President Joe Biden for a visit in April 2024. Shigeru Ishiba made an official working visit in February 2025. In 2025, Trump hosted leaders from Hungary, Turkey, and Australia as state guests. He has also expressed intentions to invite Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state visit later this year.
Such diplomatic gestures underscore efforts to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance amid regional dynamics.
