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Takashi Arimoto

【#1218】A Big Difference Between Trump’s and Ishiba’s Speeches

Takashi Arimoto ／ 2025.01.29 (Wed)


January 27, 2025

　
I had to wonder how speeches could be so different: U.S. President Donald Trump’s inaugural address on January 20 and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s policy speech on January 24.

Clear message by Trump

Trump launched tougher measures on illegal immigrants and vowed to withdraw electric vehicle promotion measures and increase production of fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas, shouting, “Drill, baby, drill.”

I covered former President Barack Obama’s inaugural speech in January 2009. “Endure what storms may come,” said Obama on a high note. “Let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter.”

Although American people may have been excited at the Obama speech, Trump obtained the presidency with a message that the United States weakened under the eight-year Obama administration. Though having lost his reelection bid in 2020, Trump won back the presidency and sent a clear message to reverse policies of his predecessor Joe Biden on the first day of his second term.

Vague policy speech by Ishiba

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper, Prime Minister Ishiba, when seeing Trump implementing his campaign promises one after another, said to his aides, “I wish I could say something like that.” Is it okay for Ishiba to be a loser from the beginning?

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner Komeito have 220 seats in the House of Representatives, 13 seats short of a majority of 233 seats. The question is how to look at this 13-seat number. Judging from his words and actions, it seems as if Ishiba is complacent with his 13-seat shortage. Why doesn’t he try to secure a majority even by pulling members from the opposition camp? Ishiba seems to believe that a minority ruling coalition means he does not have to make any decision.

In his policy speech, Ishiba expressed his intention to pursue a “pleasant Japan” as advocated by writer Taichi Sakaiya. However, the slogan is vague, lacking originality. The Yomiuri Shimbun in its editorial criticized Ishiba for remaining a pundit almost four months after he took office. The criticism is absolutely right.

Making decisions and taking actions

Former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga commented on his experience as chief cabinet secretary and prime minister, saying: “You have to make decisions every minute of every day. This is different from when you are a rank-and-file lawmaker.” Ishiba looks preoccupied with serving as prime minister as long as possible. It goes without saying that a short-lived government is undesirable. However, the prime minister is required to make decisions on issues and take actions to achieve goals, rather than remaining long in office. If Ishiba is not ready to do so, he should resign right now.

Takashi Arimoto is a Planning Committee member at the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals and a columnist at the Sankei Shimbun newspaper.