Trump to meet widow of former Japan PM Abe on Sunday, source says

After Trump's 2016 election, Shinzo Abe was the first foreign leader he met and they maintained a strong relationship through his first term in the White House. Trump has often spoken fondly of Abe, who was assassinated in 2022 while giving a speech in Japan.

Wonderful!

I am sure they will have a lot to talk about, including their mutual love and support from the Unification Church and its associated entities.

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14900434

https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-speaks-at-moonies-911-event-praises-unification-church-2021-9

What warm ties! That can ignore all the misery these cults cause, and which create the blowback that resulted in the unfortunate demise of Abe.

Should be fun.

Trump: "Yes, I remember Abe (him pronouncing it like "babe" without the "b"). You know, we had a leader named Abe once. I think his first name was Towncar. Or wait, Lincoln! Yeah, "honest Abe" we called him, like me, only my name is Trump, not Abe. Tall guy. I met him once. I am taller, but he was not bad. I got treated much worse than him, let me tell you. He got assassinated in a theater full of people -- BOOM! Shot dead! People tried to shoot me, too, but no one gets Trump. Nope. Only losers get shot. Anyway, your husband... nice guy, that Baaa---- Abe. Abel. Babel. I heard there was a tower once named after him. I have a few towers. Do you have one?"

Interesting.

Akie Abe was seated next to Donald Trump at dinner during the G20 summit in Hamburg in 2017.

As Trump explained during his interview with the New York Times afterward: “She’s a terrific woman, but doesn’t speak English … Like, not ‘hello’.”

So, in fact, they said nothing to each other for nearly two hours that evening.

Very interesting. Wife of former PM has more pull with the president-elect than the current PM himself does. Probably due to the fact that meeting with the leader of a minority government is not good optics. And the risk of Ishiba blundering is high.

This could be a very strategic and calculated move. Trump basically snubs Ishida, a known and vocal critic of Abesan, to meet with Mrs Abe and pay his respects. You get the feeling the games are just beginning for team Ishiba and the current LDP. Very Tumpish.

Trump can talk wistfully to Abe's widow about all those good times he spent with Shinzo. The golf games at Mar-a-lago. Shinzo falling into bunkers. The "delicious" helpings of chocolate cake at the post-golf banquets.

Good times!

Complete lack of empathy from the left, as evidenced by the comments in this thread.

Ishiba told reporters on Nov 16 that the Trump transition team had informed them that under U.S. law, the president-elect could not meet with foreign leaders before assuming the presidency.

Since when did the "Scofflaw-in-Chief" care about US laws?

Since the election, Trump has met with several foreign leaders, however, including Argentinian President Javier Milei and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Exactly!

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had sought to travel to the United States to meet with Trump after the G20 conference in Brazil on Nov 18-19 but the meeting never materialized.

Ishiba told reporters on Nov 16 that the Trump transition team had informed them that under U.S. law, the president-elect could not meet with foreign leaders before assuming the presidency.

Yet President elect Trump has invited Akie Abe, the widow of the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, on Sunday over a private dinner at his resort in Florida.

The optics are somewhat confusing, I understand Trump and the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had an appreciation of golf, Abe san gifted Trump with a gold club, also Melania Trump will be on hand to steer the conversation.

However, my cynicism steers me in the direction that Donald Trump politically game playing Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in preparation for some extortionate increase in US Japan security costs demands.

We do miss Prime Minister “Abi”. I’m sure he would be really happy how this all turned out for DJT.

Complete lack of empathy from the left, as evidenced by the comments in this thread.

Everything you hate is 'woke' isn't it?

Obviously this is a Personal relationship and has NOTHING to do with politics, Mr. trump can meet with who ever he wishes to in his private time, glad to see he and his wife kept the relation alive and well.

I’d also meet Milei and Abe’s wife. Ishiba is no fun, and bad policies.

Nice idea, Trump's often spoken kindly about Abe-San and his tragic assassination. Besides, PM Ishiba has found himself in a corner with his backing of the insanely politically stupid US Steel merger with Nippon Steel.

Trump going to tell everyone in Japan, "if you want into our market, either lower your tariffs and/or invest in the necessary supply chains within US, no exceptions."

"Oh, and prepare to pay MORE for your security umbrella"

As Trump explained during his interview with the New York Times afterward: “She’s a terrific woman, but doesn’t speak English … Like, not ‘hello’.”

I gather that was intentional, and that she actually speaks extremely good English. She just didn't want to interact with him, which is a natural response for most human beings.

Most logical humans want to interact and 'transact' with Trump, because he's so politically successful. Exactly who spends time talking with Biden these days?

Exactly who spends time talking with Biden these days?

His family, which is probably more than can be said of Trump.

Trump longs for those pleasant sunny days in Tokyo playing golf with PM Abe and then enjoying some great sushi afterwards versus the VERY Boring PM Ishiba!

Asiaman7Today  05:07 pm JST

Interesting.

Akie Abe was seated next to Donald Trump at dinner during the G20 summit in Hamburg in 2017.

As Trump explained during his interview with the New York Times afterward: “She’s a terrific woman, but doesn’t speak English … Like, not ‘hello’.”

So, in fact, they said nothing to each other for nearly two hours that evening.

Interesting, I never heard Trump speaking Japanese either....

Who is going to translate as Akie's English is not great.

To all posting negative remarks. I feel bad for you that you can't recognize one human being trying to be nice to another.

The woman's husband was assassinated. A world leader and his wife are trying to let her know they understand her grief and that she is not forgotten. Stop trying to make the action fit into your sad way of thinking.

Bring on the down votes!

The woman's husband was assassinated. A world leader and his wife are trying to let her know they understand her grief and that she is not forgotten. Stop trying to make the action fit into your sad way of thinking.

Totally valid point Bret. You speakin truth, some just can’t deal with it for reasons of their own.

To all posting negative remarks. I feel bad for you that you can't recognize one human being trying to be nice to another.

We do. Just not when it's someone for whom literally everything is transactional.

I gather that was intentional, and that she actually speaks extremely good English. She just didn't want to interact with him, which is a natural response for most human beings.

For the 5 people who voted this down, I actually posted a link to prove this, but the mods took it down. If you google 安倍昭恵トランプ英語 you'll find articles on it.

Haters gonna hate. President TRUMP makes his own decisions and that unsettles the left.

The President-elect cannot have official meetings with national leaders, but that does not preclude unofficial conversations such as dinners. It's not a difficult concept.

The woman's husband was assassinated. A world leader and his wife are trying to let her know they understand her grief and that she is not forgotten. Stop trying to make the action fit into your sad way of thinking!

No need for hysterics. Don’t fall in love so easily.

Politicians are transactional.

Trump is more transactional than most.

Haters gonna hate. President TRUMP makes his own decisions and that unsettles the left

Another one(?) smitten.

Classy move to make time to meet with her. Did Biden ever?

Akie Abe said this three weeks ago to one of Ishiba's critic:

Personally, I want Ishiba-san to do his best. I want him to work hard for the sake of Japan. Since everyone chose him, I feel that once the decision has been made, we all need to come together and support him.

Mocheake:

Can't see why she wants to do that. 

In a conversation with one of Abe's supporters and Ishiba's critics, she said:

*Personally, I want Ishiba-san to do his best. I want him to work hard for the sake of Japan. Since everyone chose him, I feel that once the decision has been made, we all need to come together and support him**.*

JimizoDec. 13  10:39 pm JST

"Haters gonna hate. President TRUMP makes his own decisions and that unsettles the left"

Another one(?) smitten.

Nauseating, aren't they.

Shigeru Ishiba is a boring guy, of course, A meeting with Akie Abe is better.

MCToday  12:41 am JST

Classy move for Trump to make time to meet with her. Did Biden ever?

Biden's Deep State Associates at Secret Service and FBI did 'coordinate' assassination attempts, Former Secret Service Director now MIA, lawyering up in prep for #47.

Congress continues to investigate assassination attempts; voters did not approve of Govt. assassination involvement = political corruption. Translation?

Biden couldn't 'sincerely' meet with the Abe's widow!

MCToday  12:41 am JST

Classy move to make time to meet with her. Did Biden ever?

Why would he? Biden never had any connection with Shinzo Abe, their terms of office didn't coincide.

HopeSpringsEternalToday  11:28 am JST

Translation?

Don't know, but that comment could certainly do with one.