US President Donald Trump congratulated Takaichi Sanae on winning the race to become the leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Trump hailed her victory over the weekend as “tremendous news” for Japan.
In a social media post on Monday, Trump described her as a “highly respected” person of “great wisdom and strength.” The new LDP chief has not been elected yet as the country’s leader, but Trump said Japan has chosen its “first female prime minister.” Lawmakers are expected to vote for the new prime minister in mid-October.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also posted on X and welcomed the news. He said she will be a “valuable partner” in deepening Japan and US relations, and he noted that he is looking forward to working together on economic and national security issues of “mutual interest.”
Trump is set to visit South Korea later this month for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Officials in Washington and Tokyo are working on arrangements for Trump to possibly stop in Japan.
AloJapan.com