Pool Reports of February 7, 2025

In-town pool report #1: Gathering for PM Ishiba's arrival

Good morning. I'm your print pooler on this chilly, overcast day at the White House.

Pool is gathering for the arrival of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba of Japan.

In-town pool report #2:

PM Ishiba's vehicle entered the White House grounds at 11:50 am and the prime minister was greeted by President Trump.

In response to a shouted question about his message for Japan, POTUS replied, "I love Japan."

In-town pool report #3: Quotes from pool spray

At 11:57 am, POTUS and PM Ishiba began pool spray in the Oval Office.

POTUS said, "It's a great honor to be with Prime Minister Ishiba. ... He's a highly respected man. The people of Japan like him a lot."

PM Ishiba, through an interpreter, expressed his appreciation "from the bottom of my heart" and thanked the widow of slain former PM Shinzo Abe for a note she wrote.

Speaking of Trump surviving an assassination attempt, PM Ishiba said, "I was very touched by your undaunted presence, that you stood up and you raised your fist high in the sky," called the images of Trump immediately after the assassination attempt "unforgettable," and told Trump, "God saved you."

PM Ishiba said Trump's Make America Great Again slogan "reflects your deep compassion for the forgotten men and women" and added that he also sees "forgotten men and women" in Japan and hopes to bring "dreams and hope" for them.

PM Ishiba said he believes POTUS and the late Japanese PM Abe "laid the foundation" for the great partnership between their countries.

"Determined to work hand in hand to bring peace to the world."

POTUS replied, "Shinzo was a great friend of mine. ... He also had tremendous respect for you."

PM Ishiba said that he had spoken with the CEO of Toyota, a high school friend of Ishiba, who told the PM that the automaker plans to increase its investment and create more jobs in the United States.

"Japan has been the largest investor in the United States for the last five consecutive years," PM Ishiba said, and is ready to increase its investments further.

He also mentioned investments by SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son and by the Japanese automaker Isuzu, which has a plan to create a factory in the United States "in the near future."

Toyota also plans to expand their U.S. factories and upgrade others, including one starting this April.

POTUS replied, "Say hello to Mr. Toyota. ... All of these people, so great. Such a great country."

Says he wants to work on reducing the U.S. trade deficit with Japan, like with other countries.

POTUS then responded to questions from reporters:

• He said he hadn't changed his mind on the proposed sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel.
• He said that tariffs on Japanese exports are an option if the trade deficit doesn't get to even.
• He will be making an announcement on reciprocal trade with other countries next week, seeking to eliminate U.S. trade deficits. "We don't want any more or any less."

A reporter asked PM Ishiba in Japanese if there will be tariffs on Japanese exports. The PM replied that he understands that Trump's goal is "mutually beneficial" trade policy and that there will be further discussion on trade.

Answering more questions from repoters, POTUS said:

• "It will be very easy for Japan. We have a fantastic relationship. They want fairness also."
• Asked for his response to a Time Magazine cover showing Elon Musk behind the Resolute Desk, POTUS says, "Is Time Magazine still in business? Elon is doing a tremendous job. ... He's wanted to be able to do this for a long time."
• "When you look at USAID, the whole thing is a fraud. Very little put to good use. Every single line that I look at is either corrupt or ridiculous."
• Asked if Musk will take the podium at the White House to answer reporters' questions, POTUS says yes, adding that Musk is "not shy."
• On Gaza, POTUS says that since his remarks earlier in the week, there have been "No deliberations. It's been very well received." He said that Gaza "will be given to us by Israel."
• "We don't want to see everybody move out and then move back in 10 years," he said of the plan to remove Palestinians from Gaza, adding that his plan "would lead to great stability in the area" for "very little money."
• On DeepSeek, says he doesn't think it's a national security threat. "I view that as a very good development, not a bad developments," because it shows reduced costs for AI.
• Auto tariffs are "always on the table."
• On the war in Ukraine, he said he will "probably be meeting with President Zelenskyy next week" and added, "I'd like to see it end, just on a human basis. … "I'd like to see that end. It's a ridiculous war."
• He is interested in talking with Zelenskyy about rare earth minerals in Ukraine and wants "an equal amount of something" in exchange for U.S. support. "We would like them to equalize."
• He said the meeting with Zelenskyy could be in Washington and would not be in Ukraine.
• Asked if he plans to talk with Russian President Putin, he said, "President Putin and I have a good relationship" and said Russia wouldn't have started the war had Trump been president.

POTUS concluded pool spray at 12:25 pm.

In-town pool report #4: Gathering for joint presser

Pool is gathering outside North Portico for POTUS and PM Ishiba's joint press conference, which should begin shortly. The presser will be live-streamed on the WH YouTube channel, so I won't share extensive quotes here.

In-town pool report #5: 2-minute warning

POTUS and PM Ishiba will begin presser in 2 minutes.

In-town pool report #6: Notes from joint presser

POTUS and PM Ishiba entered the East Room at 2:20. VPOTUS, NatSec Advisor Mike Waltz and Interior Secretary are in the room.

After announcing that Japan will buy liquefied natural gas from the United States, POTUS asked Burgum to stand up and wave to the people in the room. Trump said the U.S. trade deficit with Japan could be reduced to zero just through U.S. oil and gas exports.

Apparently meaning to refer to Nippon Steel, not the Japanese automaker, POTUS announced that "Nissan" has "agreed to invest heavily" in U.S. Steel rather than buying the American company.

While listening to PM Ishiba's remarks through an interpreter, POTUS nodded approvingly when the PM said Japan will increase its investments in the United States to $1 trillion.

POTUS chuckled when PM Ishiba said in response to a reporter's question that he first found Trump frightening on TV.

The presser ended at 2:58 pm.

In-town pool report #7: Waiting for Faith Office announcement and EO signing

Pool is waiting to enter the Oval for the Faith Office announcement and EO signing.

In-town pool report #8: No press for EO signing

EO signing in the Oval is now closed press.

In-town pool report #9: Pool gathered for Marine One departure

After the EO signing was closed to press, pool is now gathered on the South Lawn for Marine One departure.

Foreign Pool Report #1 -- Events and Background

Good morning

I will be your foreign pool reporter for today's visit of ISHIBA Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan to the White House.

Today, the President will greet the Prime Minister, host a bilateral meeting and lunch with him and then hold a joint press conference.

To inform your reporting today, please find below some background on the U.S.-Japan relationship and Prime Minister Ishiba.

Peter

BACKGROUND ON VISIT OF PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN TO THE WHITE HOUSE

Today, Friday 07 February 2025, the President of the United States will host the Prime Minister of Japan ISHIBA Shigeru [Japanese style; family name first] for a visit to the White House. This is the second day of the Prime Minister's two-day visit to the United States. He arrived yesterday and departs this evening. Ishiba will be only the second foreign leader visit to the White House in the second Trump Administration. Prime Minister Ishiba's visit to the White House and meeting with the President of the United States is the next visit of a Japanese Prime Minister after three visits during the prior administration by Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio in April 2024 (White House State Visit), July 2024 (NATO Summit, Washington, DC), and September 2024 (Quad, Wilmington, DE).

Your pool understands that this is Ishiba's first ever face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the two spoke by telephone on November 7, 2024 after Trump was elected, so that Ishiba could congratulate Trump. The two also confirmed that they would "work closely together to bring the Japan-U.S. Alliance to new heights" and "both sides concurred on realizing a meeting in-person at the earliest possible opportunity", which brings us to today.

The leaders are expected to issue a joint statement after the meeting.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, "Through this visit, Prime Minister Ishiba intends to build a relationship of trust and cooperation with the new administration of the U.S. and elevate the Japan-U.S. Alliance to new heights." Trump and Ishiba are also expected to discuss:

FOREIGN POLICY

• Japan's efforts to increase defense spending to deter China
• North Korea's nuclear and missile development
• Ishiba will surely want to discuss the issue of Japanese abductees to North Korea
• Maintenance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait

A big unknown is how Trump will engage with Japan in his second term so Ishiba will likely be satisfied if he can simply establish good and cooperative ties with the United States.

In the economic arena, they are expected to discuss:

ECONOMICS

• Japan's trade surplus with the United States
• Will Ishiba bring to the meeting announcement of a gift of new investment in the US?
• Cooperation on generative AI
• Nippon Steel's attempt to purchase US Steel.

Prime Minister ISHIBA—the Man

Prime Minister ISHIBA is the 102nd Prime Minister of Japan. He just celebrated his birthday on February 4th and is 68 years old.

Mr. Ishiba was born into a political family, his father ISHIBA Jiro having served as governor of Tottori Prefecture (western Japan) from 1958 to 1974 before later becoming the Minister for Home Affairs.

The younger Ishiba was first elected to the Diet at the tender age of 29 (the same age as Joe Biden was when he entered the US Senate).

Mr. Ishiba has served as Secretary-General of the LDP, No. 2 in the party, as well as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Minister of Defense.

Mr. Ishiba is known to be a political maverick due to his willingness to criticize his own party, as well as his relatively liberal stances on social issues. He has, for example, defied his party on policies including the increased use of nuclear energy and has criticized his party for not allowing married couples to use their individual family names. He has also promised to move some ministries and government agencies out of Tokyo to encourage regional growth. Mr. Ishiba also proposed establishing an agency to oversee the construction of emergency shelters throughout Japan, which suffers from earthquakes.

In September of last year, Mr. Ishiba became president of the LDP for the first time and became Prime Minister in his fifth attempt at election. In 1993, he temporarily left the LDP over political reforms, but returned in 1997. During former Prime Minister Abe's first term in power, Mr. Ishiba spoke openly about his responsibility for Abe's defeat in the House of Councilors election, and since then, he has been known as Abe's rival. In Japan, he is described as Abe's "political enemy."

After becoming president of the Liberal Democratic Party, Mr. Ishiba contributed an article to the Hudson Institute calling for the revision of the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement and the creation of an Asian version of NATO, but has since refrained from advancing those ideas due to backlash from within Japan.

Mr. Ishiba has also expressed a preference for Japan's reducing its reliance on the United States for its defense and he criticized the opposition in the United States to Nippon Steel's attempt to purchase U.S. Steel, saying it unfairly cast Japan as a U.S. national security risk.

Mr. Ishiba has also said he would pursue greater oversight over the US military in Okinawa and has suggested he would like Washington to give Japan a say in how the U.S. would use nuclear weapons in Asia.

Mr. Ishiba is also known as a defense fanatic. His hobbies include collecting plastic military models and trains (riding them). In high school, Mr. Ishiba was a member of the golf club, but has hardly played golf since becoming a politician. He is eager to build a relationship with Trump using a different approach from that of Abe, who used golf to develop a deep friendship with Trump.

Foreign Pool Report #2 - - PM arrival

The PM's motorcade arrived at the West Wing portico at 11:50 am, with the door flanked by members of the military attending the flags of the US and Japan and the flags of the 50 states lining the driveway.

The President came out to greet him. They shook hands.

In response to the question, what's your message to Japan?", the President said," we love Japan".

The two waved and then turned and entered the building.

Foreign Pool Note #3 -- Oval Office

Pool entered the Oval at 1157 p.m.

The President was sitting on the left with the PM to his right.

QUOTES BELOW
Please check against transcript.

TRUMP ON THE PM HIMSELF
"He's a highly respected man doing a fantastic job. The people in Japan like him a lot. It's good. And it's a real honor to have him in the Oval Office. This is the first time he's been into the Oval Office."

PM STATEMENT
Referenced the gift of the President's photo book and the inscribed message "peace".

PM ON THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
You stood up, and also you raised your hand high in the sky, stood up with and behind you there was a star spangled banner with the Blue Star, and that specific photo will be remembered was only of the most unforgettable scenes

PM ON ABE AND THE RELATIONSHIP
I am proud of the very good relationship between Japan and the United States, there is a very close partnership, and I do believe that it is Mr. President and late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who laid the foundation for such robust relationship between our two countries. To So as we move forward, together with Mr. President and also together with the United States, Japan and myself are determined to work hand in hand to bring peace to the world and also enable people to have their dreams and their hopes.

TRUMP ON PM ABE
Shinzo was a great friend of mine. So sad I was I couldn't have felt worse when that happened to him at a horrible event. But he also was a friend of yours, and he had tremendous respect for you.

PM ON JAPANESE INVESTMENTS IN US
TOYOTA — he [Akio Toyoda] shared with me his future plan to announce more investment to the United States and also to create more jobs in the United States

SOFTBANK — Masayoshi Son also shared his vision to bring more investment to the United States.

Isuzu, too.

TRUMP ON JAPAN TRADE SURPLUS WITH US
We do want to work on the deficit. We have about $100 billion deficit with Japan, which I'm not surprised, because you're very good negotiators,

TRUMP ON US STEEL/NIPPON STEEL
No, I think we're going to be discussing that I hear. We'll have some pretty good information on that.

TRUMP ON TARIFFS
Q President, are tariffs an option if the deficit doesn't get to equilibrium to equality?
A Yes

TRUMP ON REPORTED ANNOUNCEMENT ON RECIPROCAL TRADE
I'll be announcing that next week reciprocal trade, so that we're treated evenly with other countries. We don't want any more, any less. So I'll be announcing that next week

QUESTION TO JPM ABOUT TARIFFS
The translator reported that the PM said that he understands that Trump's goal is mutually beneficial trade policy and that there will discuss this going forward.

TRUMP ON ELON MUSK ON COVER OF TIME AT RESOLUTE DESK
Is Time Magazine still in business?
He's doing a great job. He's finding tremendous fraud and corruption and waste.

TRUMP ON GAZA
No, no deliberations. It's been very well received, basically, the United States real estate transaction, where we'll be an investor in that part of the world, and no rush to do anything. Need anybody there would be supplied and given to us by Israel. We'll watch it terms of security. We're not talking about boots on the ground or anything, but I think we'll the fact that we're there, that we have an investment there, I think we've gone a long way to creating peace. We don't want to see everybody move back and then move out in 10 years

TRUMP ON ZELENSKYY/PUTIN
I will probably be meeting with President Zelensky next week, and I will probably be talking to President Putin. I'd like to see that war in for one primary reason, they're killing so many people,

We, we've always had a good relationship. President Putin and I have always had a good relationship. That's why it's so sad that it happened. This would have never happened if I were president. It's so sad to see it happen. So many dead people, by the way, so many cities are demolished.

Pool exited at 1225 p.m.

WH travel pool report 1 — Andrews

Good afternoon from Joint Base Andrews, from where the president will leave soon for Palm Beach and Mar-a-Lago, his winter country club home.

He is scheduled to attend the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Sunday before returning to Washington.

We are flying aboard the larger plane, the modified Boeing 747, tail number 29000.

WH travel pool report 2 — Marine 1 arrival

Marine 1 set down on the runway at Andrews at 1547 and taxied over to a position about 50 yards directly ahead of Air Force 1.

The president emerged from the helicopter in a suit and black overcoat, walked to the plane and climbed the staircase to the forward entrance. He stepped aboard at 1552.

He waved to the the pool assembled beneath the port wing but did not take questions.

Following behind him were Walt Nauta, Mike Waltz, Susie Wiles, and Karoline Leavitt, among others.

We should be airborne shortly.

WH travel pool report 3 — arrival in Florida

Air Force 1 touched down on Palm Beach International Airport at 1749 after one hour and 48 minutes in the air.

The flight was smooth after a bumpy climb out, and the pool had no visitors from the front of plane.

WH travel pool report 4 — motorcade

President Trump came down the steps from Air Force 1 at 1801 to a mild South Florida late afternoon.

He pumped his fist at the pool but did not did not engage with the pool and climbed into his waiting limousine at 1802.

Also on the plane were Sens Tillis, Kevin Hassett and Doug Burgum.

At 1804 the motorcade is moving.

WH travel pool report 5 — Mar-a-Lago

The president's motorcade crossed the Intracoastal and pulled into his country club at 1814 following the short drive.

Clumps of his supporters waved as we drove down Southern Boulevard and on both sides of the bridge.

WH travel pool report 6 — Mar-a-Lago ballroom

Pool was bought to the smaller Mar-a-Lago ballroom. The Republican members of the Senate were invited to dinner and the president is expected to address them shortly.

There are nine tables with ten seats each.

Karoline Leavitt told the pool that 41 senators attended, with some number of spouses.

TV pool will be carrying this live, so check your favorite cable network.

WH travel pool report 7 — president's remarks

President Trump began speaking from a lectern at one end of the room at 2005 with a US flag on either side.

Glass chandeliers hang from the ceiling. There is lots of gold paint on the trim on the walls and ceilings. Parquet floor.

WH travel pool report 8: remarks over

The president said he had a prepared speech in a binder (Karoline Leavitt had said it would last about 5 minutes) but said he didn't want to read it and decided to speak off the cuff and wound up speaking for 35 minutes.

The president welcomed the senators, told them that a group of "funders" were upstairs in their own meeting and wanted to be in the room with the senators.

He joked about how he had saved Dave McCormick's life by not inviting him on stage in Butler where he was nearly assassinated.

"I saved your life by saying don't come up."

"We had a tremendous run," talking about the Senate victories.

Called Maxine Waters a lunatic.

Talked about how many people came to his prayer breakfast.

Spoke about US Steel, said he was telling the Japanese how he couldn't let them buy it.

Boasted about how the tech billionaires used to work against him but now support him, including his inauguration."

"That's a who's who of the world sitting on the stage."

Tax on tips, one year deduction, had a great meeting, explained how he suggested "why don't we just balance the budget."

Green new scam, known as the green new deal, saying he was paying attention to AOC because she was running in Queens, which was his territory, said he tried to warn Crowley but Crowley wasn't worried about AOC but what about Tim Scott who absolutely destroys his opponents and don't fight Mark Wayne Mullin, who almost got into a fight, and Grassley made Comey choke by asking in his voice: "Did you lie?"

RFK Jr is here, Trump said, and he's not a radical and vaccinated his children but now autism is so prevalent compared to decades ago: "What's that all about?"

Musk used to be a recluse but they got him not to be reclusive. Horrible USAID. "It's got to be kickbacks."

Is now sending Musk to DOE and the military. Musk's geniuses look terrible and wear their undershirts but they have 182 IQs and so they intimidate people the question about spending in the agencies: "the whole thing is a scam."

Shoutout to Doug Burgum and Chris Wright.

Claimed he had gas prices even lower than $1.84 a a gallon but then Biden ruined it by not drilling enough but then went back to drilling and said the oil production would have twice or three times as much if he'd still been in office.

Claimed that countries all over the world loaded up all their criminals and sent them to the US under Biden and it never would have happened if the election hadn't been rigged against him.

Now talking about men in women's sports and weight lifting and by the way Susie deserves a lot of credit and you know she's the daughter of Pat Summerall.

"We call her the ice maiden."

"We ran a perfect campaign."

Said he continued raising money even after he won. "We raised over $500 million."

Says he will do great in the midterms because Dems will continue with open borders and transgender.

WH travel pool report 8a — otter file

The WH press office announced a lid at 2049.

Here is the otter file:

LINK

(TV pool was carrying live.)

Good night to all.