President Donald Trump arrives in Japan on Monday, where new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is seeking a friendly one-on-one relationship with the US leader to ease trade tensions.
The meeting is an early diplomatic test for Takaichi, Japan’s first female leader. She took office only last week and is supported by a weak coalition.
Trump spent Sunday in Malaysia for a regional summit.
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Here’s the latest one:
Lots of questions, but not always answers
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Trump touted the transparency of his administration, noting that all top officials were interviewed by the media.
“You can ask all you want. There’s never been anything like this,” he said.
But Trump still wants to hide some things. Specifically, he still doesn’t want to identify the donor who gave $130 million to pay U.S. troops during the government shutdown.
Trump only said that “he’s an incredible patriot.”
Trump welcomes Argentina election results
The political party of Argentine President Javier Millei did well in the country’s midterm elections, which Trump called a “big win.”
“He had a lot of help from us,” Trump said. “I gave him approval, a very strong approval.”
The administration also provided economic aid to Argentina, including the ability to buy Argentine beef to reduce prices in the United States.
The idea has upset American cattle farmers, but Trump has dismissed the issue.
“We’re going to lower the price of beef and I’m going to make sure the cattle farmers don’t get hurt,” Trump said.
Trump praises Elon Musk
The president and the tech titan faced explosives when Musk left the administration, where he headed the Department of Government Efficiency. They reconnected at the funeral of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Trump said their argument was water under the bridge.
“He had a bad period, a bad moment. It was a stupid moment in his life,” Trump said, adding, “I like Elon and I suspect I always will.”
A third term for Trump?
Stephen Bannon, a Trump ally, has repeatedly said the president could serve a third term despite the constitutional ban. Trump himself has flirted with the idea.
Asked about it on Air Force One, Trump said, “I haven’t really thought about it.” He dismissed running for vice president as a way to return to the presidency, saying, “I would be allowed to do that,” but not because “it’s too sweet.”
Trump praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance as potential future Republican nominees.
“I’m not sure anyone would run against those two. I think if they ever got together it would be unstoppable,” he said.
Trump still wants to meet with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un
The president’s overtures to reestablish contact with reclusive North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have gone unanswered.
“If he wants to meet, I’ll be in South Korea,” Trump said.
Trump even said he would be willing to extend his trip if the opportunity arose to speak with Kim. Since South Korea is Trump’s last stop before returning to the United States, “it’s pretty easy to do,” he noted.
Trump criticizes Georgia immigration raid on South Korean company
The source of the tension was a recent immigration raid at a Hyundai plant that frustrated Korean business leaders who had been encouraged to invest in the United States.
Trump said, “I did not support their removal,” and said they were working on a new visa system that would make it easier for Korean companies to attract skilled workers.
“We’re creating a whole new plan for that,” he said.
Trump said, “We want them to bring in the experts” and “they’re going to teach our people how to do this,” before returning to Korea.
Trump speaks to reporters en route to Tokyo
Trump returned to the press room on Air Force One with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. They asked questions for about half an hour.
Trump said he would talk about the “great friendship” between the United States and Japan during his visit.
“I’m hearing phenomenal things” about Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, Trump said. He noted her closeness to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with whom Trump had a good relationship during his first term.
“It will be very good,” he said. “It really helps Japan and the United States.”
Trump’s focus in Asia has been on trade
There is no shortage of security issues in the region, including access to the South China Sea and the future of Taiwan. But Trump’s unmistakable focus has been on trade and his desire to reshape the international economy in line with his “America First” vision.
This usually means tariffs, or at least the threat of them. Trump has often used import tariffs — from both allies and opponents — to boost domestic production or seek more favorable terms.
But its unilateral power to set tariffs remains contested. Trump is awaiting a Supreme Court case that could strengthen or limit his authority.
Trump’s last stop was Malaysia
The president is flying to Tokyo from Kuala Lumpur, where he attended the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. He attended the ceremonial signing of an extended ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, which have been fighting this year. Trump has helped pressure both countries to a halt by threatening to end trade deals.
The summit isn’t a guaranteed part of any president’s itinerary, but it was an opportunity for Trump to reconnect with an important region for the first time since returning to office.
American and Chinese negotiators also used the summit to push for progress in trade talks, with the possibility of a deal later this week that would ease tensions between the world’s two biggest economies.
Trump congratulates Argentinian Milei on her midterm success
On his way to Japan, Trump took to the Truth Social network to say that Argentine President Javier Milei was “doing an amazing job” as his party beat expectations in the midterm elections.
“Our confidence in him has been justified by the people of Argentina,” Trump wrote.
Milei, a Trump ally, has largely won a vote of confidence to continue her policies aimed at tackling long-standing inflation and economic problems in Argentina. A libertarian who seeks to unleash the forces of the free market, Milei endeared himself to Trump’s Make America Great Again movement after appearing at the US Conservative Political Action Conference earlier this year.
The Trump administration provided a $20 billion credit swap line to shore up the country ahead of the election and sought an additional $20 billion to support the value of the Argentine peso.
Japan has tightened security ahead of Trump’s arrival
Security has been beefed up in the Japanese capital ahead of US President Donald Trump’s arrival on Monday. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police formed a special task force and mobilized about 18,000 officers.
At Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, where Trump will arrive, all lockers and trash cans have been closed or removed.
Vehicles were searched in central Tokyo and police dogs were deployed outside the US embassy, where riot police were also deployed. One man was arrested on suspicion of carrying knives near the embassy.
Trump leaves Malaysia for Japan
Trump continues the second leg of his trip to Asia, boarding Air Force One in Kuala Lumpur for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit.
The US president did not speak to the assembled reporters as he walked the red carpet and watched the dancers board the plane.
Still, the president found his time in Malaysia to be productive, calling it a “very vibrant” nation in a social media post. Trump pointed to the truce agreement signed between Thailand and Cambodia, as well as the trade frameworks he spent with the leaders.
“Now to Japan!!!” Trump told Truth Social.