Fact Check: Shigeru Ishiba was the first Asian leader to meet Trump during his second term.

Fact Check: Shigeru Ishiba was the first Asian leader to meet Trump during his second term.

Published July 13, 2025
VERDICT
True

# Fact Check: "Shigeru Ishiba was the first Asian leader to meet Trump during his second term." ## What We Know Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishib...

Fact Check: "Shigeru Ishiba was the first Asian leader to meet Trump during his second term."

What We Know

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met with President Donald Trump on February 7, 2025, marking him as the first Asian leader to visit the White House during Trump's second term. This meeting was significant as it followed a period of strained relations between the two nations over trade issues. Reports confirm that Ishiba's visit was the first of its kind for an Asian leader since Trump's inauguration for his second term, highlighting the importance of Japan in U.S. foreign policy (Washington Post, NPR, UPI).

Analysis

The claim that Shigeru Ishiba was the first Asian leader to meet Trump during his second term is supported by multiple reputable sources. The Washington Post explicitly states that Ishiba was the first Asian leader to meet with Trump in this context. Similarly, NPR corroborates this by noting that Ishiba's visit was a significant diplomatic engagement, emphasizing the historical context of U.S.-Japan relations (NPR).

However, it's important to evaluate the reliability of these sources. The Washington Post is a well-established news organization known for its rigorous journalistic standards. NPR is also a reputable source, providing in-depth coverage of political events. Both outlets have a history of accurate reporting, which adds credibility to their claims regarding Ishiba's meeting with Trump.

While some sources, such as the Stimson Center and Hudson Institute, mention that Ishiba was the second world leader to meet Trump, they do not contradict the primary claim about him being the first Asian leader. This distinction is crucial as it clarifies the context of the meeting without undermining the original claim.

Conclusion

The claim that Shigeru Ishiba was the first Asian leader to meet Trump during his second term is True. Multiple credible sources confirm this information, and there is no substantial evidence to dispute it. The context of this meeting underscores the ongoing complexities of U.S.-Japan relations, particularly in light of trade negotiations and defense spending discussions.

Sources

  1. Japan's alliance with United States strained over trade deal
  2. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to meet with President Trump
  3. Trump backs Japanese investment in U.S. Steel, doesn't rule out tariffs
  4. Trump and Ishiba Meet for the First Time—Success, Maybe?
  5. A Promising Start: What the Trump-Ishiba Meeting Means
  6. Japan’s PM prepares for unexpected at Donald Trump summit
  7. A Good First Step: Analyzing the Trump-Ishiba Summit
  8. Japanese leader to stress importance of Asian alliances in Washington

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Fact Check: Transcript
00:00
Are Trump's approval ratings in
the tank? Let's check it out. I
mean every politician would
like this number here
especially to see it go up. How
about compared to other
presidents who are Republicans?
Yeah. It's history making. It's
history making. What are we
talking about here? So why
don't we look back? We have all
the president's Republican
presidents going back over the
last thirty-five, thirty-six,
37 years. What are we talking
about? GOP who strongly
approved 5 months in. Look at
this. George, HW Bush, Bush
forty1, 46%. Bush forty-three,
fifty you see Trump the first
00:31
term 53, but look at this 63%
he beats all the other
Republicans on the board here
and I was looking even back
since Reagan and get this
Donald Trump beats Ronald
Reagan when it comes to the
strongly approved five months
and of course Reagan was coming
off that high after that
assassination attempt so the
bottom line is Donald Trump is
making history with the
Republican base he is more
beloved by this Republican base
than any Republican base loved
any GOP president 5 months in.
It is history making. Even CNN
01:03
is telling the truth. Feels
like hell might be freezing
over.
Partially True

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Detailed fact-check analysis of: Transcript 00:00 Are Trump's approval ratings in the tank? Let's check it out. I mean every politician would like this number here especially to see it go up. How about compared to other presidents who are Republicans? Yeah. It's history making. It's history making. What are we talking about here? So why don't we look back? We have all the president's Republican presidents going back over the last thirty-five, thirty-six, 37 years. What are we talking about? GOP who strongly approved 5 months in. Look at this. George, HW Bush, Bush forty1, 46%. Bush forty-three, fifty you see Trump the first 00:31 term 53, but look at this 63% he beats all the other Republicans on the board here and I was looking even back since Reagan and get this Donald Trump beats Ronald Reagan when it comes to the strongly approved five months and of course Reagan was coming off that high after that assassination attempt so the bottom line is Donald Trump is making history with the Republican base he is more beloved by this Republican base than any Republican base loved any GOP president 5 months in. It is history making. Even CNN 01:03 is telling the truth. Feels like hell might be freezing over.

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Fact Check: Shigeru Ishiba was the first Asian leader to meet Trump during his second term. | TruthOrFake Blog