Trump visits Japan as largest federal employee union calls for immediate end to shutdown: Live updates

President Trump emphasized the close ties between the US and Japan and celebrated the country’s plans to buy more US military hardware going forward.

He also congratulated Prime Minister Takaichi on becoming the first female leader of Japan and predicted that she will be “one of the great prime ministers.”

“It’s a big deal and I want to congratulate you on it,” he said. “It needs to be called up. You’re going to do a great job and we’re going to have a great relationship.”

As a sign of friendship, Japan says it will donate 250 of its famous cherry trees, as well as fireworks, to be used in the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary next year.

Prime Minister Takaichi is currently delivering opening remarks ahead of a roundtable discussion with US officials, including Donald Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Thank you for your lasting friendship with Prime Minister Abe over the years. In addition, thank you for the gracious hospitality of Mrs. Akiya Abe at the end of last year.

In fact, Prime Minister Abe often told me about your dynamic diplomacy. Most recently, Mr. President, you succeeded in securing a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, helping to secure peace in Asia. Also, the agreement you recently reached in the Middle East is an unprecedented, historic achievement.

On Tuesday, President Trump began his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the country’s first female leader.

The two shared a warm greeting and posed in front of the flags of both nations.

Trump spoke of Japan as a strong friend of the United States

Former special counsel Jack Smith on Monday asked the Justice Department for guidance on what he can and cannot discuss in potential public testimony before Congress. New York Times reports.

In a letter to the DOJ, Smith’s lawyers said the former official “respectfully requests guidance” on issues including grand jury secrecy rules and access to special case files that could affect what the former prosecutor can say publicly.

Smith, who is being investigated by congressional Republicans over allegations that he led politically motivated investigations and criminal cases against Trump, is seeking to testify before lawmakers.

He has denied that his cases were biased.

Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m. local time in Tokyo with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan, the country’s first female leader.

Ms Takaichi, 64, won the ruling party’s leadership contest after Shigeru Ishiba stepped down, but only secured the country’s top job after the Liberal Democratic Party, which remains the largest party in parliament, put together a coalition with the less right-wing Japan Innovation Party, known as Ishin.

Calling herself the successor to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with whom she was an ally, Ms Takaichi said she would choose Satsuki Katayama as the first female finance minister at a time of rising prices and slowing growth.

Here’s a primer on the Japanese leader.

The Trump administration filed an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court on Monday as it seeks to remove Shira Perlmutter, director of the US Copyright Office.

A lower federal appeals court prevented the White House from unilaterally firing the official, whose office is part of the Library of Congress.

The cases raise important questions about the president’s ability to remove staff at key federal agencies.

More than 100 former Justice Departments filed an outside brief in federal court on Monday urging a judge to dismiss the Trump administration’s prosecution of former FBI director and frequent Trump critic James Comey.

“This looks like picking a political enemy and prosecuting that person,” said James Pearce, who signed the amicus brief. Washington Post of his motives. “The referral makes clear that we are not in any way advocating a relaxation of the standards. The way the vindictive indictment doctrine is that it is extraordinarily difficult to meet. And it is appropriately not given to the majority of defendants who seek it.”

Here’s more on the controversial Comey case.