U.S. President Donald Trump has offered his “total endorsement” of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ahead of a national election on Sunday, signaling strong support for the country’s first female leader and her conservative coalition.
Takaichi, 64, who draws inspiration from Britain’s Margaret Thatcher, is expected to deliver a decisive win for her ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party (Ishin). Opinion polls suggest the coalition could secure around 300 of the 465 seats in the lower house, expanding on their current slim majority.
“Prime Minister Takaichi is someone who deserves powerful recognition for the job she and her Coalition are doing,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, describing it as an “honor to give a Complete and Total Endorsement of her.” Trump has also invited Takaichi to the White House on March 19, highlighting the U.S. interest in reinforcing the bilateral alliance.
Analysts note that Trump’s backing, while not decisive in determining the election outcome, resonates positively with Japan’s business community and sections of the public. “Improved relations and recognition by Trump will be seen as a positive,” said geopolitical analyst Asuka Tatebayashi of Mizuho Bank.
Takaichi has pursued a bold agenda, including ambitious defense build-ups and spending plans to aid households coping with rising prices, measures that have unsettled investors. Markets have reacted cautiously to her promise to suspend the sales tax on food, with concerns about Japan’s ability to cover a projected 5 trillion yen ($30 billion) annual shortfall.
Her policies have also fueled tensions with China, particularly following public remarks on how Japan might respond to a Chinese attack on Taiwan. While Beijing has criticized these statements, Takaichi’s approval ratings remain high, and she has become an unexpected cultural icon for younger voters, admired for her personal style and parliamentary presence.
