U.S. President Donald Trump, second left, and Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, right, attend the Japan-US summit meeting at Akasaka Palace State Guest House in Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Franck Robichon/Pool Photo via AP)

TOKYO (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump told new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi today that they will have “a fantastic relationship.”

At the outset of Trump’s meeting with Takaichi in Tokyo, he said, “I have always had a great love of Japan and a great respect of Japan, and I will say that this will be a relationship that will be stronger than ever before.”

Trump also told Takaichi, who became the country’s first female prime minister a week ago, “I want to just let you know — any time you have any question, any doubt, anything you want, any favors you need, anything I can do to help Japan, we will be there.”

U.S. President Donald Trump is meeting with Japan’s newly elected, ultraconservative leader in Tokyo during one of the busiest days of his Asia trip, the itinerary of which includes speaking to U.S. troops aboard an aircraft carrier and mingling with business leaders.

Just days after taking office, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi may look to build a personal connection with Trump to ease trade tensions. One key to this strategy might be an idea floated by Japan’s government to buy a fleet of American Ford F-150trucks.

Trump spent Sunday in Malaysia as part of his ongoing trip through Asia to discuss mostly trade with world leaders, aiming to highlight America’s influence on the global economy.

The Latest:

Japan planning to give Washington 250 new cherry trees next year

Takaichi told Trump that her country would give Washington some 250 additional cherry trees next year, in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration — as well as fireworks from Akita Prefecture for July 4 celebrations in 2026.

Then-Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida gifted 250 new cherry trees to Washington during a visit to the White House with President Joe Biden in 2024.

Last year’s gift was meant to replace trees removed for construction to repair the crumbling seawall around the nation’s capital’s Tidal Basin, while also commemorating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. in 2026.

Trump says Takaichi as Japan’s first female prime minister is ‘a big deal’

The president offered especially effusive praise to Takaichi, telling her, “Anything I can do to help Japan, we will be there.”

“You’re going to do a fantastic job, and we’re going to have a fantastic relationship,” he said.

Trump also hailed Takaichi being the first woman to hold the post, saying, “That’s a big deal,” before adding, “You will be one of the great prime ministers.”

The president told Takaichi that his offer to support Japan in all situations extended to any “favors you need.”

Takaichi mentions her mentor’s bond with Trump

Takaichi used her early remarks to mention former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, her archconservative mentor who forged a strong bond with Trump during the U.S. president’s first term.

“As a matter of fact, Prime Minister Abe often told me about your dynamic diplomacy,” she said.

In his own comments, Trump said, “I want to thank you very much and I want to congratulate you.”

He continued: “Shinzo Abe was a great friend of mine,” and added, “he spoke so well of you.”

Trump said Abe “would be very happy to know that” Takaichi was now prime minister.

Abe was assassinated on July 8, 2022, during an election campaign speech. Trump recalled being saddened by Abe’s killing.

Takaichi starts meeting with Trump by talking about US World Series

Before meeting with Trump, the Japanese prime minister said she was watching the Los Angeles Dodgers play the Toronto Blue Jays in the U.S. World Series.

Takaichi said the Dodgers were up 1-0 and that she really enjoyed watching it.

Baseball is a shared pastime in the U.S. and Japan. Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is a near ubiquitous presence across Japan in ads and the Dodgers ballpark increasingly caters to tourists from Japan coming to the U.S. to watch him.

Trump praises Takaichi’s ‘strong handshake’

The president arrived for a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the Akasaka palace in Tokyo.

Trump was surrounded by U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

While posing for photos, Trump shook hands with Takaichi and said, “That’s a very strong handshake.”

The U.S. delegation also included White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who said to Takaichi, “Congratulations, we’re so excited for you.”

Trump and Takaichi are scheduled to hold upcoming meetings.

White House pulls the nomination for the top US diplomat for the Middle East

The White House has pulled the nomination of a retired Army colonel and former special envoy for Syria during the first Trump administration to become the top U.S. diplomat for the Middle East, according to a congressional aide and a State Department official familiar with the matter.

Joel Rayburn’s nomination had been held up for months in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky before it was finally cleared last week for a full Senate confirmation vote, according to the aide and the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the White House withdrawal has not yet been announced.

Neither could or would say why exactly the nomination was pulled, but Rayburn had been seen by some in the White House as not supportive enough of Trump administration priorities.

The State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs has not had a Senate-confirmed assistant secretary since January.

___

— By Matthew Lee, AP Diplomatic Writer

Top US Senators are demanding NBA provide information over alleged gambling scheme

Sen. Ted Cruz, the Republican Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Sen. Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on the panel, want information “about how the NBA investigated and handled these allegations as well as what steps the Association is taking to maintain the public’s trust.”

“Americans love basketball because it is fast-paced and unpredictable,” the senators wrote to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, in a letter obtained by The Associated Press.

“That volatility is the sport’s magic, and precisely why allegations that current and former National Basketball Association (NBA) players and coaches compromised the game’s integrity are so troubling,” they said.

The Commerce Committee, which has vast authority over sports and other matters, is seeking the information after last week’s arrests in relation to the alleged gambling scheme. The senators want a response by Nov. 10.

Who is Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s new prime minister?

Ultraconservative Sanae Takaichi is Japan’s first female prime minister and was tapped by parliament for her post mere days before Trump’s arrival.

A hawk on security issues and fan of heavy metal music, Takaichi replaced the outgoing Shigeru Ishiba after his long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party suffered big losses in July elections.

The 64-year-old Takaichi grew up near the ancient Japanese capital of Nara and is an admirer of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. She has opposed efforts aimed at boosting women’s achievements in a country where men still largely hold sway.

Takaichi meets Tuesday with Trump and has called the Japan-U.S. alliance a “cornerstone” of Japanese diplomacy. She’s also stressed that Japan is an indispensable partner for America in its strategy to provide counterweights to China in the Indo-Pacific region.

Senators seek probe over the costs of National Guard deployments

Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, the top Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee, said Trump’s deployment of the National Guard into American cities for security “marks a significant departure from long-standing practice” and “carries substantial cost implications that have not been publicly disclosed or formally justified to Congress.”

Merkley and other Democrats on the panel are asking the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office to provide an accounting of the deployments and operations.

“Congress must have a clear understanding of both the immediate and long-term budgetary consequences of this policy,” the senators wrote.

Senators ask Trump administration to let Americans preview next year’s Affordable Care Act options

In Monday’s letter to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the largely Democratic group of 28 lawmakers noted that this “window shopping” period has opened on Oct. 25 or 26 over the past eight years.

On Monday, Healthcare.gov appeared to show 2025 health insurance plans and estimated prices, instead of next year’s options. A banner on the website instructs enrollees to “come back November 1 for a more accurate estimate” of their 2026 health costs.

CMS on Monday was expected to temporarily bring back all its workers furloughed during the shutdown, in part to manage the ACA open enrollment period that starts Saturday.

Many states that operate their own health insurance marketplaces have already given enrollees a peek into 2026 prices. Premiums are expected to skyrocket next year in anticipation of rising health costs and expiring subsidies that have made the plans more affordable.

Senate GOP leader talks with Trump, but no easy fix to end shutdown or save SNAP

Senate Majority Leader John Thune says he spoke with the president late Sunday but offered no new strategy for ending the government shutdown, now in its 27th day.

“He, like all of us, wants the government opened up,” Thune said.

Thune also signaled there’s no easy fix ahead to pay air traffic controllers and other federal workers, or to ensure food stamps are not turned off Saturday.

Republicans are pushing Democrats to drop their demands for health care funds, for now, and reopen government.

“The answer is very simple. Paying SNAP recipients, paying the military, paying all federal workers — ATC, TSA, Border Patrol — it’s all really simple,” he said

“We are where we are.”

Hegseth departs on southeast Asia trip

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has departed on his own, separate trip to southeast Asia early on Monday and he plans to visit four countries as part of his travel.

Hegseth will visit Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, and South Korea, according to a statement released by the Pentagon late on Sunday. As part of this trip, Hegseth will attend a meeting of the region’s defense ministers and co-chair an annual security meeting with his South Korean counterpart.

It was not clear from the Pentagon’s announcement how much, if any, of Hegseth’s trip would overlap with Trump, who is travelling in the region largely to discuss trade. Trump is currently in Japan and he’s set to visit South Korea next. Hegseth was in Hawaii on Monday morning.