The White House released photos from the March 19 dinner hosted by President Donald Trump for Takaichi and other Japanese officials. One of the most prominent images showed Takaichi dancing while holding a handbag, drawing immediate attention.
Takaichi appeared to be dancing to X Japan’s “Rusty Nail.” On social media she said she was deeply moved when the military band played the song as she arrived outside the banquet hall.
Ikuo Konoi, a professor of international politics at Takachiho University, told the daily Gendai that flattering Trump to keep him in a good mood can be a negotiation tactic, since confronting him directly might derail talks. But he cautioned that dancing or hugging just because a favorite song plays goes too far and could leave the impression that “taming Sanae would be easy.”
Takaichi also drew controversy for laughing and pointing at an exhibit related to former President Joe Biden during the trip.
While walking the “President’s Walk of Honor” with President Trump, she laughed after seeing a photograph of an “autopen” where Biden’s face should have been. Observers interpreted the display as an attempt to mock Biden by highlighting doubts about his mental acuity.
Japanese internet users criticized her conduct as inappropriate, saying she should have ignored the crude display instead of joining in the mockery; some said the scene was so grotesque they initially thought it was AI-generated.
Yohei Kabasawa, a Chiba city council member from the Constitutional Democratic Party, accused Takaichi of mocking Biden to curry favor with Trump, saying, “She will do anything to win Trump’s approval. It’s pathetic on a personal level.”
