Is Trump the Takaichi kingmaker?

“You’ve been a kingmaker in a lot of Republican primaries…” Trump was told by a reporter aboard Air Force One. 

“Including, far in Asia,” he replied. “I was very honored to see that a very wonderful Prime Minister in Japan won by a landslide. I think she was going to win, but she won by just about the biggest vote ever in Japan. And she attributed my endorsement for that.”

Trump’s remarks followed his public endorsement of Takaichi ahead of Sunday’s snap election. 

On Truth Social, he wrote that she has “already proven to be a strong, powerful, and wise leader… one that truly loves her country,” adding: “She will not let the people of Japan down!”

Takaichi, who became Japan’s first female prime minister after taking the helm of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, had openly courted Trump as Tokyo sought stability in its relationship with Washington amid trade tensions.

Before her win, she said: “I am sincerely grateful to President Donald J. Trump for his warm words… The potential of our Alliance is LIMITLESS.”

After securing victory, she again thanked him directly: “Thank you, @realDonaldTrump, for your kind and encouraging message of congratulations. I look forward to working closely with you, Donald, to advance peace, strength, and prosperity for our two nations.”

Trump, without naming her in an earlier post, hailed Japan’s “first female Prime Minister, a highly respected person of great wisdom and strength.”

Whether Trump’s endorsement proved decisive is unclear.

But Takaichi’s nationalist platform and hardline rhetoric on immigration have drawn comparisons to the U.S. president — reinforcing the perception, at least among supporters, that Trump’s political brand now reaches well beyond America’s borders.