Trump and Takaichi are close. Iran puts their relationship to the test

A White House meeting between Japan’s Prime Minster Sanae Takaichi and US President Donald Trump was meant to be a routine show of unity – not a stress test, as it’s now become. The two leaders were hoping to build on momentum from Trump’s recent visit to Tokyo that framed the US–Japan alliance as entering a “golden era.”

For Takaichi, it was also a chance to demonstrate credibility on defense and security. Trump leaned into the symbolism, praising Takaichi as Japan’s first female prime minister and striking a familiar tone of personal diplomacy, telling her to “just call” if she needed anything.

But in recent days, the tone of this upcoming meeting has shifted dramatically.

Read more