Trump Misunderstands Abe's Meaning During Photo-Operation in the Oval Office

Mr. Abe translated the reporter's words for Mr. Trump, but the US President misunderstood.

US President Donald Trump met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the Oval Office on February 10. As the two men shook hands, reporters shouted in Japanese, “Please look at me,” meaning they wanted the leaders to look directly into their cameras, according to Quartz.

Trump asked Abe what the reporters were saying and Abe translated for Trump. However, Trump misunderstood Abe and instead of looking at the reporters, he looked at Abe with a big smile on his face, even when Abe gestured with his hand to indicate that Trump should look at the reporters.

Mr Abe was the only foreign leader to meet Mr Trump before he took office and the second leader after British Prime Minister Theresa May to visit after the president took office.

During his meeting with Abe, Trump affirmed the US commitment to Japan’s security and called on the US and Japan to contribute more to bilateral defense cooperation. This was considered a victory for Prime Minister Abe. He visited Washington with the hope of developing trust and friendship with the new US president, while sending a message that the decades-old alliance between the two countries is unshakable.

According to VNE