Politics President-elect Trump welcomes Akie Abe at Mar-a-Lago

PM Ishiba had been desperate to meet Mr Trump but was turned down on "legal grounds." There were no legalities in Mrs Abe's case: last Sunday, she dined with the Trumps in Mar-a-Lago.



Akie Abe, widow of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, joined U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, for dinner at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida on 15 December. Melania shared a photo of the trio on Trump's social media platform, Truth Social, and a heartfelt message: "It was a privilege to host Mrs. Akie Abe at Mar-a-Lago once again. We fondly remembered her late husband, former Prime Minister Abe, and honoured his remarkable legacy."

The invitation is believed to reflect Trump's close relationship with the late prime minister, who was tragically assassinated in 2022. According to CNN, the meeting was arranged through direct communication between Trump and Akie, bypassing government channels. CNN also reported that Trump has regularly reached out to Akie since her husband's passing to check on her well-being. Shinzo Abe and Trump first met in November 2016 in New York, shortly after Trump's election. Their bond deepened through numerous golf outings and other engagements, with Trump frequently praising Abe's leadership, even before the recent U.S. presidential election.

Meanwhile, incumbent Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba sought to meet with Trump on his way back to Japan after his diplomatic trip to South America in November, but could not set up a meeting. At the time, the Japanese government explained that Trump's camp said the president-elect would not meet with the leaders of other countries until his inauguration in January of next year. However, Trump has met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since his election in November.

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Akie Abe, the widow of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, expressed her hope on Sunday that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump would promote global peace during his upcoming second term. Reflecting on Trump's visit to Japan as a state guest in May 2019, she shared during a speech in Tokyo, "I realized then that Mr. Trump is someone who does not desire war. I hope he will guide the world toward peace after his inauguration in January."

Her remarks came after she dined with Trump and his wife, Melania, at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba took office in early October and has not held an in-person meeting with Trump since his reelection as U.S. president in November.

Shortly after the November 2016 presidential election, then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hurried to Trump Tower in New York to meet Trump. To nurture their budding friendship, he presented the fellow golf enthusiast with a gold-embellished driver.

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I've always wondered who pays for these lavish gifts. Taxpayers?

Trump, a man with a big loving heart.