Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi could not contain her excitement as she jumped in joy on stage while sharing the spotlight with US President Donald Trump aboard the USS George Washington on Tuesday.The moment came as Trump introduced her to a cheering crowd of American troops in Tokyo, hailing her as “the first female prime minister in the history of Japan.” Takaichi pumped her fist and beamed with delight.Trump made a dramatic entrance aboard the aircraft carrier, descending on a giant lift flanked by fighter jets and missiles. He praised Japan’s new leader, saying during a later business reception, “I’m so happy to have gotten to know your new Prime Minister. I think she’s going to go down as great.” He added, “She’s got all of our support.”Earlier in the day, Takaichi returned the compliment, saying she would nominate Trump for next year’s Nobel Peace Prize.Trump addressed the troops, flaunting US military capabilities. “You see that nobody makes equipment like we do. Nobody makes the ammunition, the weapons, the missiles, planes, none of it,” he told the crowd. “And if they do, the American sailor stands ready to crush them and sink them and wreck them and blast them into oblivion, right?”Realising his fiery tone, Trump added jokingly, “That’s a terrible statement to make. That takes me out of the running [for the Nobel Peace Award].”The president went on to call the troops “incredible people, good-looking people, too many good-looking people.” He added, “I don’t like good-looking people. I never liked good-looking people, I’ll be honest with you. Never admitted that before.”Takaichi, a protégé of the late Shinzo Abe, has been closely aligned with Trump’s style of politics. Their rapport was clear throughout the day, with Trump even calling her “a winner.”
