During his first meeting with the recently appointed Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi, US President Donald Trump was given the late PM Shinzo Abe’s golfing putter.

Trump and Takaichi have signed an agreement securing the rights to mine and process rare-earth elements and other minerals.

Trump and Abe had been longtime friends and golfing buddies until Abe’s assassination by a lone gunman in 2022.

Their friendship had been formed during Trump’s first term as president, as the two would occasionally play golf together.

Trump had this to say when shaking Takaichi’s hand:

“He was a great friend of mine and a great friend of yours.”

After Trump had returned to the Presidency, he hosted the late PM’s wife, Akie Abe, at his Mar-a-Lago retreat, for which Takaichi thanked him.

Alongside the putter, Takaichi had other gifts for the US President, which included a signed by the 2021 Master Winner Hideki Matsuyama bag as well as a gold-leaf golf ball.

Trump and Takaichi have signed two baseball caps with the slogan “JAPAN IS BACK”, a catchphrase now adopted by Japan’s current PM, which originated from the late PM Abe.

The man suspected of shooting Shinzo Abe had his highly anticipated trial this Tuesday, in the former PM’s hometown of Nara.

A Political Tour

Analysts have said that Abe’s protege Takaichi will greatly benefit by maintaining positive relations with Trump to...