Trump pays tribute in wake of assassination: Shinzo Abe was a 'true friend' of America

Condolences for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe poured in from world leaders who were close to and worked closely him after his assassination on Friday. 

Former President Donald Trump called the death of the “truly great man and leader” “absolutely devastating news.”

“He was a true friend of mine and, much more importantly America,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

“This is a tremendous blow to the wonderful people of Japan, who loved and admired him so much. We are all praying for Shinzo and his beautiful family!”

Abe started speaking to Trump even before he took office. The two met in Trump Tower in Nov. 2016 while he was still president-elect, where the Japanese leader presented him with a gold-plated golf club.

The pair met several times while both men were in office. Trump visited Japan twice and was the first foreign leader to meet newly enthroned Emperor Naruhito in May 2019.

Former President Barack Obama also posted about his relationship with Abe and the work they did to strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance.

“I will always remember the work we did to strengthen our alliance, the moving experience of traveling to Hiroshima and Pearl Harbor together, and the grace he and his wife Akie Abe showed to me and Michelle,” Obama tweeted early Friday morning.

I am shocked and saddened by the assassination of my friend and longtime partner Shinzo Abe in Japan. Former Prime Minister Abe was devoted to both the country he served and the extraordinary alliance between the United States and Japan.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 8, 2022

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted a message to social media as well, calling Abe “a man of great vision” and saying that “Canada has lost a close friend.”

“My thoughts are with his wife, Akie, and the people of Japan as they mourn this loss. You’ll be missed, my friend,” he said on Twitter.

The assassination of @AbeShinzo is incredibly shocking – and I’m deeply saddened. The world has lost a great man of vision, and Canada has lost a close friend. My thoughts are with his wife, Akie, and the people of Japan as they mourn this loss. You’ll be missed, my friend.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) July 8, 2022

During his tenure, Japan took the lead in securing the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) after the original plan fell through when the U.S. withdrew.

Trudeau thanked Abe during a Sep. 2020 meeting, crediting the CPTPP for creating “major opportunities for job growth and opened up new markets for Canadian businesses and entrepreneurs” and the Japanese prime minister for his “efforts to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region, which advances our shared values and commitment to multilateralism and a rules-based international order.”

Taiwainese President Tsai Ing-wen expressed her shock and condemnation over the assassination, describing Abe as a good friend and describing how he had spoken out in Taiwan’s favor on multiple occasions, reports Taiwan News.

The former prime minister called for the U.S. to make it clear it would step in and defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine. 

President Joe Biden said he was “stunned, outraged, and deeply saddened by the news” that Abe had been “shot and killed.”

“He was a champion of the friendship between our people,” Biden posted to Twitter.

“The United States stands with Japan in this moment of grief.”