>>178624, >>178625, >>178626, >>178627, >>178628, >>178629, >>178630, >>178631, >>178632, >>178633, >>178634, >>178635, >>178636, >>178637, >>178638, >>178639, >>178640, >>178641, >>178642, >>178643, >>178644, >>178645, >>178646, >>178647, >>178648, >>178649, >>178650, >>178651, >>178652, >>178653, >>178654, >>178655, >>178656, >>178657, >>178658, >>178659, >>178660, >>178661, >>178662, >>178663, >>178664, >>178665, >>178666, >>178667, >>178668, >>178669, >>178670, >>178671, >>178672, >>178673, >>178675, >>178676, >>178677, >>178678, >>178680, >>178681, >>178682, >>178683, >>178684, >>178685, >>178686, >>178687, >>178688, >>178689, >>178690, >>178691, >>178692, >>178693, >>178694, >>178695, >>178696, >>178697, >>178698, >>178699, >>178700, >>178701, >>178702, >>178703, >>178704, >>178705, >>178706, >>178707, >>178708, >>178709, >>178710, >>178711, >>178712, >>178713
"So first of all, Japan has been consistently open to dialog with China. And also second, we have been addressing our relationship with China. And also speaking of the US China relationship, my sincere hope is that the relationship will be something conducive for regional security and also ensuring a global supply chain in the world. Once again, I would like to reiterate that Japan has been consistently open to dialog with China."
Your pooler was directly behind the Japanese delegation and could not see, but she observed Japan's Ambassador to the US Yamada, nodding along to what PM Takaichi was saying.
PM Takaichi wore large pearls, an embroidered blue suit and skirt, black heels and her legislative pin and blue ribbon pin to call attention to the Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea.
Earlier, the WH shared a short video (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dOzBU5S5gTM) on PM Takaichi's arrival to the South entrance. You can observe President Trump throwing open his arms in welcome, and her going in for a hug instead of a handshake.
We are in a lunch lid until 1:30pm.
Mineko Tokito Abe
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Thu. Mar. 19, 12:48 PM
https://x.com/WHPressPool/status/2034677605488554124

White House Press Pool Reports @WHPressPool - In-town pool report #4: lunch lid until 1:30pm / additional quotes from bilat
Lunch lid until 1:30pm.
Here are some additional quotes from Trump to reporters in the Oval Office earlier:
On why he didn't tell allies about the war before attacking Iran: "We wanted it to be a surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor?"
Trump confirmed that he may seek $200 billion in new Pentagon funding, calling it a "small price to pay to make sure that we stay tippy top." He denied that U.S. is running out of weapons. “We want to be in the best shape, the best shape we’ve ever been in…We’re asking for a lot of reasons, beyond even what we’re talking about in Iran. Munitions in particular, at the high end we have a lot, but we’re preserving it.”
More from his comments on the US-Japan relationship: “We’ve had tremendous support and relationship with Japan on everything…And I believe that, based on statements that were given to us yesterday, the day before yesterday, having to do with Japan, they are really stepping up to the plate…unlike NATO."