Trump bonds with Japan’s new prime minister

President Trump treated his time in Japan on Tuesday as a victory lap — befriending the new Japanese prime minister, taking her with him as he spoke to U.S. troops aboard an aircraft carrier and then unveiling several major energy and technology projects in America to be funded by Japan.

- By JosH Boak AND CHRIS MEGERIAN.

JAPANESE Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi gestures as President Trump speaks to U.S. personnel Tuesday aboard the aircraft carrrier USS George Washington.

PHILIP FONG AFP/Getty Images

Sanae Takaichi, who became the country’s first female prime minister only days ago, solidified her relationship with Trump while defending her country’s economic interests. She talked baseball, stationed a Ford F150 truck outside their meeting and greeted Trump with, by his estimation, a firm handshake.

By the end of the day, Trump — by his administration’s count — came close to nailing down the goal of $550 billion in Japanese investment as part of a trade framework. At a dinner for business leaders in Tokyo, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced up to $490 billion in commitments, including $100 billion each for nuclear projects involving Westinghouse and GE Vernova.

“You're great business people,” Trump told the gathered executives before the dinner. “Our country will not let you down.”

It was not immediately clear how the investments would operate and how they compared with previous plans, but Trump declared a win as he capped off a day of bonding with Takaichi.

Trump, Takaichi swap warm words

The compliments started as soon as the two leaders met Tuesday morning. “That's a very strong handshake,” Trump told Takaichi.