Trump Meets Japan's Emperor Naruhito in Tokyo

Published 4 hours ago

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Above: Japanese Emperor Naruhito greets President Donald Trump at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Oct. 27, 2025. Image copyright: Issei Kato/Pool/Getty Images

The Spin

Right narrative

Trump has a golden opportunity to forge a powerful alliance with Takaichi, who shares his bold America First vision and commitment to countering China's growing threat. Takaichi is already delivering results, accelerating Japan's defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2026 and pledging unprecedented military collaboration. This partnership could create the strongest Pacific alliance in decades, with Japan finally stepping up as America's most reliable partner against Chinese aggression.

The Washington Examiner

Left narrative

Takaichi faces an uphill battle trying to win over Trump, lacking the personal chemistry that made Abe successful and relying heavily on invoking her deceased mentor's legacy. Trump's retreat from traditional allies has already rattled Japanese officials who fear being abandoned if his meeting with Xi goes too well. Japan's massive $550 billion investment commitment shows how desperately they're trying to buy Trump's loyalty rather than building a genuine partnership.

The New York Times The Mainichi