Japan’s Takaichi wins big in snap election after Trump endorsement
Overview: Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party, led by Sanae Takaichi—the country’s first female prime minister—won a sweeping snap election, securing a supermajority (316 of 465 seats) in the House of Representatives and giving her a strengthened mandate for a right-leaning agenda. Takaichi called the election soon after taking office to solidify their slim majority, even suggesting she would resign if the LDP lost. the victory is framed as broad support for her push toward a more proactive fiscal policy and greater investments. The win was buoyed by endorsement from U.S. President Donald Trump, signaling a deepening Japan–U.S. alliance and potential increases in defense spending. Takaichi has close ties to the late Shinzo Abe and has cultivated a favourable relationship wiht Trump, including gifting Abe’s golf putter to Trump last year.
Japan’s Takaichi wins big in snap election after Trump endorsement
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi‘s ruling party dominated a snap election on Sunday, securing a supermajority in the country’s House of Representatives and giving Takaichi an even larger mandate to pursue her right-wing agenda.
Takaichi, who is the first female prime minister of Japan, took a risk in calling for the election just months after entering office. While very popular herself, her Liberal Democratic Party has been hampered by a very slim majority, which she sought to expand, even threatening to resign if the LDP lost it.
Poll results from Japanese outlet NHK showed that the risk paid off, with the LDP winning 316 seats out of the 465 up for grabs in the House, well above the 233 needed for a simply majority.
Speaking after the results came in, Takaichi emphasized that she will continue to pursue “responsible and proactive fiscal policy” and “ensure necessary investments.”
She also thanked President Donald Trump, who endorsed her ahead of the elections, and vowed to “further strengthen the Japan–U.S. Alliance.”
“I am sincerely grateful to President Donald J. Trump for his warm words,” she posted on X. “Our Alliance and friendship with the United States of America are built on deep trust and close, strong cooperation. The potential of our Alliance is LIMITLESS. Let us work together to ensure that our Alliance continues to bring peace and prosperity to our two nations — and beyond.”
The two leaders have already developed a warm relationship, with Takaichi joining Trump on a U.S. aircraft carrier in Japan last fall. The win on Sunday means that will largely continue.
Her policies have been met favorably by Trump, including a goal of ramping up defense spending and investment commitments worth hundreds of billions of dollars in the United States.
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Takaichi was also close to the late Shinzo Abe, who was prime minister during Trump’s first term but was assassinated in 2022.
She has leaned on Trump and Abe’s friendship in getting in the U.S. president’s good graces, gifting him Abe’s golf putter last October.
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