LOVEFEST: US, Japan Announce $73 Billion New Business Projects Including $40 Billion Nuclear Power Project

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s White House visit was a masterclass in power diplomacy—two leaders who not only understand each other, but clearly respect and admire one another. Takaichi’s visit to the White House was nothing short of extraordinary—a display of rare alignment, mutual respect, and strategic clarity between two leaders operating at the height of their influence.

The substance matched the tone. The United States and Japan unveiled $73 billion in new joint ventures—from advanced nuclear reactor development to major energy infrastructure across key American states—part of Tokyo’s sweeping $550 billion commitment. This wasn’t symbolic cooperation; it was strategic alignment at scale.

What set the meeting apart, however, was the unmistakable rapport. Takaichi made clear her view that President Trump is uniquely positioned to reshape global stability, even as tensions escalate in Iran. Trump, for his part, engaged Japan as a true equal—eschewing the tired framework of one-sided alliances in favor of mutual strength and shared interest.

In an era of weak, uncertain leadership across much of the West, the Trump–Takaichi dynamic stood out: decisive, confident, and rooted in genuine respect.

I love this photo, and we love Japan!

🇺🇸 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/no3mRx4j3H

— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) March 20, 2026

🚨 WOW! Incredible moment as Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi just declared President Trump her "best buddy" on the world stage 🇺🇸🇯🇵

"A stronger Japan and a stronger America. A more prosperous Japan and a more prosperous America. Donald and I are the BEST BUDDIES to realize this… pic.twitter.com/RcUR3Ds2PF

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 19, 2026

本日、ホワイトハウスを訪れ、トランプ大統領との日米首脳会談を行いました。

緊迫した状況が続くイラン情勢については、事態を一刻も早く沈静化させ、ホルムズ海峡における航行の安全、エネルギーの安定供給を確保することの重要性を確認しました。
これは、我が国の国益を守る観点からも重要です。… pic.twitter.com/8GdKjoamMD

— 高市早苗 (@takaichi_sanae) March 19, 2026

In a joint statement, Japan and leaders from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands expressed a “readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait” and welcomed “the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning.”

Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi just stunned the world, declaring only President Trump can achieve peace as he decimates the Iranian regime

“I firmly believe that it is only you, Donald, who can achieve peace across the world!”

“And to do so, I am ready to reach out to many of the partners in the international community to achieve our objective together!”

“So today, I came here at the White House to directly convey this message to you.”

This is so adorable. I thought the Japanese Prime Minister would bow. Instead she ran for a hug from the president, pic.twitter.com/eB7vEXm3n5

— USMC Lady Vet 🇺🇸 (@Arkypatriot) March 19, 2026

I am in tears. Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stuns President Trump by wishing his son Barron a Happy Birthday

"Tomorrow is the birthday of your son, Mr. Barron Trump. He has grown up so much, into a very tall, good looking gentleman its clear where he got it”

I LOVE THIS pic.twitter.com/gUsVvzZfz8

— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) March 20, 2026

🚨 LMFAO! Japan’s PM LOST IT when Trump showed her the Biden Autopen portrait on the Presidential Walk of Fame

So glad we can all now laugh at the worst President in history without worrying that he’ll accidentally nuke Ireland or something 🤣🔥 pic.twitter.com/kFRmE4rCMH

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) March 20, 2026

President Donald J. Trump and Japanese Prime Minister @takaichi_sanae. 🇺🇸🤝🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/grhiffju8t

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 19, 2026

🚨 WOW! Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi just STUNNED the world, declaring only President Trump can achieve peace as he decimates the Iranian regime

"I firmly believe that it is only you, Donald, who can achieve peace across the world!"

"And to do so, I am ready to reach out to many… pic.twitter.com/DKNPuFyZK2

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 19, 2026

Yahoo News: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that Barron Trump was a “good-looking gentleman” during a dinner at the White House.

Takaichi paid a compliment to Barron last night, just a day before Trump’s youngest child’s twentieth birthday.

The Japanese leader also remarked upon Barron’s height. The NYU student stands around 6-foot-9, according to estimates, with photos often showing him towering over his father, President Trump, and mother, First Lady Melania Trump.

“I know he has grown up so much into a very tall, good-looking gentleman,” Takaichi said. “As I see you, Donald, it is very clear where he got it. Of course, from his parents.

“There is no doubt about it,” she continued. “So Donald, if I may ask you, please convey my sincere happy birthday wishes to him.”

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says that Barron Trump is a ‘good-looking gentleman’ (Getty)

Trump has previously joked about his son’s height, telling crowds in Iowa in 2024 that his mother-in-law, Amalija Knavs, was responsible for his stature.

“That’s how he got so tall, he only ate her food,” he said.

During the remainder of her speech, the Japanese prime minister said that her country will gift 250 cherry trees to Washington, D.C., to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary.

Washington, D.C., was first gifted cherry trees by Japan in 1912, as a show of friendship between the two countries.

Takaichi added, “Japan is back.”

Kyoto News:

Japan, U.S. unveil 3 new business projects worth $73 billion total

WASHINGTON – Japan and the United States on Thursday unveiled a plan to build small modular nuclear reactors as one of three new business projects worth a total of $73 billion under Tokyo’s $550 billion commitment made last year in exchange for tariff relief.

The second batch of joint projects, announced after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, also includes the construction of natural gas generation facilities in Pennsylvania and Texas.

Although the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated the Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs last month, Japan has stuck to the terms of a trade deal the two countries reached in July.

Under the agreement, Japan has committed $550 billion to U.S.-based projects in strategic industries through investments, loans and loan guarantees until the end of Trump’s second term, despite the unpredictability stemming from his administration’s aggressive, transactional approach to international relations.

“Amid the rapid growth in global electricity demand and in light of the current circumstances, including the situation in the Middle East, we believe this is of the utmost importance,” Takaichi told reporters after the meeting, referring to the newest three projects, all related to energy.

In mid-February, Japan and the United States announced the first three projects, worth nearly $36 billion.

They are a gas-fired generating facility in Ohio, the largest of its kind in U.S. history, to power artificial intelligence data centers, a deepwater crude oil export terminal in Texas and a synthetic industrial diamond manufacturing facility in Georgia.

On Thursday, the two countries said the construction of small modular reactors by GE Vernova Inc. and Hitachi Ltd. in Tennessee and Alabama, estimated to cost up to $40 billion, will be “groundbreaking” in the United States.

They said it will serve as a “tremendous next-generation stable power source,” leading to more stable electricity prices for Americans and an enhancement of their leadership in global technological competition.

Separately, Japan and the United States agreed to boost cooperation on critical minerals and issued a list of more than 10 initiatives involving companies from both countries.

Against the backdrop of China’s dominance in rare earths, which are essential for a broad array of economic activities and national security, they have established an action plan.

Among many other objectives, the two allies said they will explore a plurilateral trade framework regarding critical minerals with border-adjusted price floors or other measures to help ensure supply chains are not vulnerable to disruptions, including “economic coercion.”

“The United States and Japan are taking an important step to expand the production and diversity of critical minerals,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement.

Japan and the United States also signed a memorandum of understanding to advance joint efforts to develop deep-sea mineral resources.

By setting up a working group, areas of cooperation under consideration include sharing information on Japan’s project near Minamitori Island, where it recently succeeded in collecting mud containing rare earth elements from the seabed at a depth of about 5,600 meters.