On Tuesday, President Donald Trump made a state visit to Japan, where he met Akie Abe, the widow of the assassinated Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
During their encounter, Akie Abe presented President Trump with a piece of art featuring the word “PEACE” in gold, acknowledging his efforts to resolve various global conflicts since his return to office in January.
Afterwards, Akie Abe remarked to Mr. X that there was an exchange of “warm words” between them.
“He continues to hold my husband in high regard and was very kind to me,” she noted. “Thank you for fitting us into your busy schedule.”
Shinzo Abe was assassinated on July 8, 2022, while delivering a campaign speech in Nara. His killer, Tetsuya Yamagami, was found guilty just recently.
The bond between Trump and Shinzo Abe was deep; upon hearing about Abe’s assassination, Trump expressed that, “There will never be anyone else like him.” He kept in touch with Akie Abe after her husband’s death, even dining with her after his own election win last year.
“Mrs. Abe had a close relationship with our First Lady Melania Trump, and she was fond of Melania’s books. I shared a strong connection with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe; he was truly a remarkable person,” Trump reflected after their dinner.
He emphasized that the meeting with Akie was held “out of respect for Mr. Shinzo.”
Akie Abe was considered one of the most notable first ladies in Japan, sometimes publicly diverging from her husband’s political views, as noted in a 2014 profile. It even became somewhat of a joke in Japan that she acted as the “real opposition party.”
For instance, while Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pushed for the reactivation of Japan’s nuclear power plants, Akie was opposed to that direction. Additionally, despite her objections, the Abe administration moved forward with a consumption tax hike. Furthermore, when Abe’s party proposed a large seawall to shield the Tohoku coast from tsunamis like those experienced in 2011, Akie voiced her disagreement, stating, “That idea is wrong.”
She has also supported social issues, notably participating in the 2014 Gay Pride Parade in Tokyo.
The strong ties between Trump and Shinzo Abe were highlighted again when Japan’s current Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi gifted Trump a golf putter that belonged to the late prime minister.
President Trump remarked, “He’s a truly great person.”
