On Tuesday, April 23, former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, who is also the Vice President of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, met with former U.S. President Donald Trump in Manhattan. Aso, who is 83 years old, entered the Trump Tower in Manhattan on Tuesday evening and had a meeting with the former president that lasted about an hour.
Trump welcomed Aso into the building saying, “He is a highly respected figure both within and outside Japan. I have always liked him and got to know him through our mutual close friend Shinzo Abe.”
Trump is currently in New York for the “Hush Money Case” trial where prosecutors accuse him of falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep her silent.
Aso served as the Deputy Prime Minister during Shinzo Abe’s tenure as Prime Minister. During his time in office, Abe formed a deep friendship with Trump. Aso, a veteran in Japanese politics, has decades of experience shaping the Japan-US relationship.
Ahead of the U.S. presidential election on November 5, Japan has been working to establish connections with those around Trump, reflecting its belief that if Trump wins, there may be changes in U.S. trade policies, so it is necessary to make early contacts to avoid being impacted by policy changes in Tokyo.
When asked about the diplomatic impact of Aso’s meeting with Trump, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa stated at a press conference on Tuesday that Aso’s visit to the U.S. is a “personal activity” of a legislator and that the government is not involved.
Two weeks before Trump and Aso’s meeting, U.S. President Biden also met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, where they announced military cooperation plans and a series of projects aimed at strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance.
Polls show a neck-and-neck race between Trump and Biden. According to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, when asked which candidate would be more beneficial for the economy, about 41% of respondents chose Republican presidential candidate Trump, surpassing the current Democratic President Biden’s 34%.
Biden’s age and his firm support for Israel in the Gaza conflict have led to a decline in support among young voters. Recently, Biden has also been gradually losing support among Latino voters.
However, last year, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, a nephew of former President Kennedy, announced his independent candidacy for the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Some polls indicate that this may have an impact on Trump’s support.
According to the latest NBC poll, in a head-to-head matchup between Trump and Biden, Trump leads with 46% support against Biden’s 44%. However, when Robert Kennedy Jr and three other independent candidates are listed on the ballot, Kennedy Jr’s support at 13% puts Biden ahead at 39% against Trump’s 37%.