Japan’s prime minister says he was treated to cheeseburgers while playing golf with host President Donald Trump in Palm Beach, Florida on Wednesday.
As Trump, his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sat down for dinner, the Japanese leader thanked his hosts for their hospitality.
Abe then joked that he and Trump already had ‘a cheeseburger on the golf course’ as well as a working lunch, so ‘already two lunches.’
President Trump is known to have a weakness for fast food.
He has been photographed on Twitter eating McDonald’s hamburgers as well as Kentucky Fried Chicken.
During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump’s favorite meal consisted of two McDonald’s Big Macs, two Filet-o-Fish sandwiches and a chocolate milkshake.
According to McDonald’s own calorie listings, that one supper comes out to 2444 calories.
In March, it was reported that the president was setting aside his beloved burgers and fries and switching to a leaner diet following recommendations from his medical team.
Earlier this year, Dr. Ronny Jackson, the White House physician who also served Barack Obama, declared Trump to be in ‘excellent health’ but he advised him to improve his diet and exercise.
On Wednesday, President Trump said he was happy to welcome Abe to the ‘Southern White House.’
‘We have had two very productive days on trade, on military, on North Korea,’ the president said.
President Donald Trump (second from right) and First Lady Melania Trump (far right) host Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (second from left) and his wife, Akie Abe (far left), for dinner at Trump’s private Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida on Wednesday
The dinner wrapped up a two-day summit during which the two leaders discussed a number of topics, including North Korea and trade
President Trump puts his hand on the first lady’s back and leads her into the club as Abe and his wife look on
‘We have some very big meetings … on North Korea.’
Trump said he was looking forward to ‘many many years of great friendship’ with Japan.
Abe had warm words for ‘Donald’, praising the president for their personal friendship as well as the alliance between their two countries.
The president, the first lady, and the Japanese leader sat down to dinner later in the evening.
Melania Trump, who was seated next to her husband, was wearing a $775 pair of So Kate single-sole pumps by Christian Louboutin.
After Trump and Abe held a joint news conference, the two leaders and First Lady Melania Trump then sat down for dinner. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is seen far left sitting next to Abe
Abe and the Trumps are seen above politely smiling as they prepare to eat dinner
Abe joked that he and the president already ate ‘two lunches’ after chowing down on cheeseburgers while they played golf earlier in the day
Trump praised Abe and said he hoped that the friendship between the US and Japan would endure for years
The first lady appears to have a lot on her mind as her husband has been plagued by scandals linked to his alleged extramarital affairs
The president has been dogged by allegations that he slept with at least two women just months after his wife gave birth to their only child
Trump and his wife appeared to share a rare moment of levity during the dinner
The Trumps appeared relieved to be away from the hustle and bustle of Washington, DC
First Lady Melania Trump is seen left and Japanese First Lady Akie Abe is seen right. The two first ladies look on during the evening’s festivities
Earlier in the day, President Trump and Abe held a joint news conference to discuss geopolitical issues of the day, most significantly relations with North Korea.
Trump pledged to help free Japanese citizens abducted and held captive by North Korea.
Trump said Wednesday that he made ‘a promise’ Abe to help return the captives believed held by the regime of North Korean dictator Kim Jung Un.
Trump, standing with Abe at a summit in Florida, says he knows that the abductees were ‘one of the truly most important things on Shinzo’s mind.’
The president says he wants ‘to see these families reunited as soon as possible.’
Pyongyang has acknowledged abducting 13 Japanese, while Tokyo maintains North Korea abducted at least 17 in the 1970s and 1980s to train agents in Japanese language and culture to spy on South Korea.
Trump says he’s seeking ‘free, fair and reciprocal’ trade in his discussions with Abe.
Trump said Wednesday during their second day of meetings at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida that Japan is ordering large numbers of airplanes from US companies that will ‘help with the process of equalization’ of trade.
The president says he’s seeking to reduce the US trade deficit with Japan and hopes the two countries can move toward ‘reciprocal’ trade.
Earlier Wednesday, Trump and Abe made time for a round of golf.
Earlier in the day, President Trump and Abe held a joint news conference to discuss geopolitical issues of the day, most significantly relations with North Korea
Trump pledged to help free Japanese citizens abducted and held captive by North Korea
Trump said Wednesday that he made ‘a promise’ Abe to help return the captives believed held by the regime of North Korean dictator Kim Jung Un
Trump, standing with Abe at a summit in Florida, says he knows that the abductees were ‘one of the truly most important things on Shinzo’s mind’
Although the two men were cordial, there was disagreement over trade policy, specifically US tariffs on Japanese steel as well as the Trans-Pacific Partnership
The first lady is seen arriving at the news conference before it started at Mar-a-Lago earlier Wednesday
The first lady has been visibly by her husband’s side during the two-day summit with the Japanese leader
She was also wearing a $775 pair of So Kate single-sole pumps by Christian Louboutin
The leaders arrived at Trump International Golf Club, a Trump-owned course, in West Palm Beach early Wednesday morning.
Trump and Abe are both avid golfers and played last year at another Trump course, in Jupiter, Florida.
They also partook in a round of ‘golf diplomacy’ at the Kasumi Country Club when Trump visited Japan last year.
During that round, Abe at one point fell backward into a bunker. He quickly recovered and Trump didn’t appear to see the fall.
Trump was seeking to reassure Abe of their close alliance ahead of Trump’s planned talks with North Korea.
The two-day Trump-Abe summit is playing out amid growing tensions over trade and North Korea.
Officials signal Trump is open to considering exempting Japan from new steel and aluminum tariffs that Abe opposes.
Earlier Wednesday, Trump and Abe made time for a round of golf. The leaders arrived at Trump International Golf Club, a Trump-owned course, in West Palm Beach early Wednesday morning
Trump and Abe are both avid golfers and played last year at another Trump course, in Jupiter, Florida. The motorcade carrying the two leaders is seen above early Wednesday morning
A photo released by Japan’s foreign ministry shows the two leaders fist-pumping during the game of golf
Another photo of the closed-press game showed Trump behind the wheel of a golf cart with Abe riding shotgun
President Trump posted this photo of him sharing a thumbs-up with Abe during the round, which was not open to journalists
But Trump later suggested there was one area where he and Abe would have to agree to disagree: the Trans-Pacific trade partnership, which Trump pulled the US out of days after his inauguration, but has recently said he might be open to re-joining.
‘The media has not covered the TPP correctly,’ Trump complained.
‘I don’t want to go back into TPP, but if they offered us a deal that I can’t refuse on behalf of the United States, I would do it.’
‘But I like bilateral better. I think it’s better for our country. I think it’s better for our workers and I much would prefer a bilateral deal.’
Abe meanwhile said: ‘We think the TPP is best for Japan and the US, and we’ll have talks with this idea in mind.’
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