Trump Hosts Japanese PM for White House Dinner

After Long Day of Bilateral Talks

Mar. 20, 2026 at 5:08am

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President Donald Trump welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to the White House on Thursday for dinner after a full day of discussions and negotiations. Trump congratulated the prime minister on her resounding election victory and forecast a mutually beneficial working relationship between the two countries.

Why it matters

The meeting between the U.S. President and Japanese Prime Minister highlights the importance of the long-standing alliance between the two nations, particularly in the areas of trade, security, and global affairs.

The details

During the dinner, Trump said 'Americans and Japanese come from opposite sides of the globe, but since the earliest days of commerce between our countries, we always recognized that despite our differences, we share a great deal in common.' The two leaders likely discussed a range of bilateral issues during their day of talks prior to the dinner.

  • The dinner took place on Thursday, March 20, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States.

Sanae Takaichi

The Prime Minister of Japan.

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What they’re saying

“Tonight, I am delighted to welcome a great friend and partner for her very first visit to the White House. We've become very close, so close that I endorsed her for her election.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States

“Americans and Japanese come from opposite sides of the globe, but since the earliest days of commerce between our countries, we always recognized that despite our differences, we share a great deal in common.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States

What’s next

The two leaders are expected to continue their discussions on a range of bilateral issues in the coming days.

The takeaway

The dinner between President Trump and Prime Minister Takaichi underscores the longstanding and important relationship between the United States and Japan, two key allies in the Asia-Pacific region.