No images? Click here
Abe’s protégé passes Trump test
29 October 2025
During President Trump’s first term in office, one world leader was seen to have possibly the warmest and most influential relationship with the president: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Yet, in President Trump’s second term, so far, no Asian leader has cultivated a close and significant enough relationship to effectively partner with the Trump 2.0 administration on its Asia strategy.
President Trump’s relations with Asian countries have been rocky so far in his term, with volatile tariffs, a mix of ambiguous trade deals, but with no sense of strong relationships. On the sidelines of ASEAN, President Trump signed a flurry of reciprocal trade deals with Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia.
But Shinzo Abe’s protégé, the newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, has shown the most promise in terms of entering Trump’s orbit in a meaningful way. Takaichi was ready to deal and signed both a trade deal (sweetened with pledges to buy a fleet of Ford F150s and invest in shipbuilding) and a critical minerals and rare earths deal. Takaichi said she will nominate President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. And, leveraging one of her greatest assets – her strong ties with Shinzo Abe, she gifted Trump with one of Abe’s putters (alongside other golfing gifts), to leave a lasting positive impression before the two set off to visit US troops aboard an aircraft carrier in Japan.
USSC polling released this week found that, out of the Quad countries, Japan had the most negative view of President Trump’s second term with 59% of respondents saying his second term was either “bad” or “very bad”.
Yet, and perhaps indicative of a level of Japanese pragmatism, more than five times as many Japanese respondents want to stick with their US alliance than want to withdraw from it. Japanese respondents were also more likely to view the United States as helpful and China as harmful in Asia than any of the other Quad countries.
Prime Minister Takaichi’s approach seems to be one of engaging with the United States to shape outcomes and this seems to accord with the general view of the Japanese public on these issues. But the challenge from here will be to turn one good meeting into an effective relationship. If she can do that, she may win support both at home and in the United States.
Mari Koeck
Director of Engagement and Impact
Lead photo: US President Donald Trump and Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi
at the Akasaka State Guest House in Tokyo on 28 October 2025.
(Photo by Andrew Caballero-Reynolds via Getty).
“You’re going to do a fantastic job, and we’re going to have a fantastic relationship."
Recent content from us
REPORTProtecting the homeland: Accelerating ground-based air and missile defence for AustraliaIn this report, Senior Adviser for Defence Strategy Prof. Peter Dean makes the case for more investment by the Australian Government in international air and missile defence in its upcoming National Defence Strategy. |
POLLINGDespite anxiety about Trump, Asia's maritime democracies are increasingly aligned on securityIn new polling, Senior Research Associate Ava Kalinauskas and Director of Research Jared Mondschein provide a snapshot of how citizens in the Quad countries perceive the strategic environment, China’s role and each other during a time of rising geopolitical tension |
In the news
SMH | How Albanese managed to court Trump while distancing himself from the MAGA agenda
The Sydney Morning Herald reports on Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's trip to the United States to meet with President Donald Trump and build ties with his conservative-populist administration. USSC Director of Foreign Policy and Defence Dr Lavina Lee is quoted in this article in the Sydney Morning Herald saying, “We should view ourselves as more than a middle power. That’s a big bugbear for me.”
ABC | Zohran Mamdani may soon be NYC's first Muslim millennial mayor. It's part of his appeal
USSC Non-Resident Senior Fellow Bruce Wolpe discussed leading New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's prospects on the cusp of the election in this article by ABC News.
The Age | Melbourne is turning ‘rust-bucket’ suburbs into a thirsty, power-hungry billion-dollar data empire
This article by The Age includes analysis from USSC Research Associate Johanna Lim on the impact rapid growth in AI will have on Australia's electricity grid.
ABC | Popular podcasters are calling out Trump — will young men follow suit?
USSC Academic Director and Senior Lecturer in American Studies Rodney Taveira told ABC News that the shifting sentiment amongst the podcasters who helped get President Trump elected, saying "now that he is the establishment, it's lost that cachet."
Upcoming events
The rise and reign of right-wing humour: How liberals lost comedy and helped Trump win
Professor Nick Marx from Colorado State University will present his paper about how liberals lost comedy and helped Trump win. Now more than ever, nearly a year into the second Trump presidency, this paper urges renewed attention to the hegemonic pull of right-wing politics on United States and Global North comedy, humour and satire.
Please join us for an event featuring Nick Marx, Professor of Film and Media Studies at Colorado State University, followed by a discussion moderated by USSC Academic Director and Senior Lecturer in American Studies, Dr Rodney Taveira.
17 November 2025
6.00-7.00pmAuditorium, The Michael Spence Building (F23) at the Corner of Eastern Avenue and City Road, The University of Sydney NSW 2006
Manage your email preferences | Forward this email to a friend
United States Studies Centre
Institute Building (H03)
University of Sydney NSW 2006