Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso on Tuesday, according to two campaign officials. The meeting is set to take place at Trump Tower in New York following the former president’s court appearance for his hush money trial.
Trump’s increasing engagement with foreign leaders comes amidst a tightly contested general election race against President Joe Biden. Campaign adviser Brian Hughes emphasized the significance of these meetings, stating, “Meetings and calls from world leaders reflect the recognition of what we already know here at home. Joe Biden is weak, and when President Trump is sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, the world will be more secure and America will be more prosperous.”
The meeting with Aso follows Biden’s recent hosting of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House for a state visit. During this meeting, Biden highlighted the strength of the US-Japan alliance and announced plans for enhanced military cooperation between the two countries.
Japan has been a key focus of Biden’s efforts to strengthen alliances in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly amidst shifts in Japan’s defense posture and ongoing support for Ukraine.
Trump’s recent engagements with foreign leaders include a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda, where discussions on NATO spending took place. Additionally, he met with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron at his Mar-a-Lago resort and hosted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in March. Trump also had phone conversations with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain earlier this year.