President Donald Trump says he had an ‘incredible evening at sumo’ on Sunday evening in Tokyo, even though he sat cross-armed and tight-lipped throughout the event.
The president sat ringside at the match, wearing black slippers, with a look of displeasure on his face as he watched wrestlers clad in loincloth participate in an opening ceremony.
‘We really enjoyed being there,’ he claimed at a dinner after. ‘And I’ve always wanted to see sumo wrestling, so it was really great.’
Trump did appear to enjoy the part of the program where he gave sumo champ Asanoyama a giant trophy weighing more than 60 pounds. A reddened Trump smiled as a wrestling official helped him hoist the prize off its mantle.
President Donald Trump says he ‘really enjoyed’ attending a sumo match on Saturday evening
NO THANKS! Trump glared and crossed his arms as the wrestlers took party in a ceremony
Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe fired up the crowd with their arrival
Trump claimed he had an incredible time, but his body language told another story
Abe and Trump are seen here watching the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokigikan Sumo Hall in Tokyo
First lady Melania Trump and Akie Abe also attended the event, where they ducked tradition and watched the match from low-backed chairs, instead of floor-level mattresses
I SWEAR I ENJOYED IT: Trump say with his hands clasped and his lips pursed – but he swears he liked the sumo event
Before awarding the gift that has been dubbed the ‘Trump Cup’ to the wrestler, the U.S. president read from a certificate of commemoration for Asanoyama printed on a Japanese scroll.
‘In honor of your outstanding achievement as sumo grand champion I hereby award you the President’s Cup,’ POTUS said, announcing the date, including the era of the new emperor, Reiwa.
Prime Minister Abe had struggled to lift a slightly smaller trophy that he presented to the sumo wrestler with the highest score in the 15-day tournament that was taking place at Ryōgoku Kokugikan Stadium in Tokyo.
Trump had no problem at all, thanks to a wrestling official who grabbed the other end of the prize formally dubbed the United States President’s Cup, which was created expressly for the Sumo Grand Champion.
In a tweet before he went to sleep, ‘Tonight in Tokyo, Japan at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan Stadium, it was my great honor to present the first-ever U.S. President’s Cup to Sumo Grand Champion Asanoyama. Congratulations! A great time had by all, thank you @AbeShinzo!!’
Abe appears to be explaining the Japanese martial art to the United State’s president
The Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokigikan Sumo Hall in Tokyo, Japan
The day in the sun took a toll on the fair-haired president. He looked sunburned at the match
The White House said the trophy that was on display at the Palace Hotel Tokyo, where Trump is staying, all of Saturday, had a 54 inch height and a weight of 60–70 pounds.
Asanoyama received a series of gifts, beginning with the Emperor’s Cup, followed by the Prime Minister’s Cup and then the President’s Cup. Later, he claimed a large teacup and large vase.
Trump said at dinner that he and Melania have had a ‘great time’ and a ‘great stay’ in Tokyo so far.
‘Tomorrow is really the main event, a very important event in the history of Japan. It’s over 200 years that something like this has happened, so it’s a great honor to be representing the United States,’ he said before the meal. ‘I think we had a very productive day, and tomorrow, likewise, will be a very productive day.’
U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive at the sumo tournament
The president and first lady were the center of attention for attendees of the sumo match
Trump and Abe engaged in golf diplomacy earlier in the day, playing with professional Japanese golfer Isao Aoki.
The day in the sun took a toll on the fair-haired president. He arrived at the sumo tournament in a lavender tie sunburned.
Melania Trump, who spent her day indoors at an art installation, had changed into a fuchsia dress, ditching a navy jumper she’d had on earlier in the day.
She sat between her husband and Mrs. Abe, who’d also participated in the art exhibit tour earlier on Sunday. Her husband leaned in to talk to her several times throughout the match, when he wasn’t talking to PM.
His acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Robert Lighthizer and senior policy advisor Stephen Miller, also attended according to the White House.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders and social media director Dan Scavino were close to Trump and seemed to be enjoying the events.
The President’s Cup sits on display in the lobby of the Palace Hotel Tokyo on Sunday
Officially called ‘The President’s Cup’ the trophy has been dubbed ‘The Trump Cup’
The cup was out on display for several hours at the president’s hotel in Tokyo before he gave it to Asanoyama on Sunday evening
Trump’s social media director, Dan Scavino (center right) and senior advisor Stephen Miller (upper right) look on at the spectacle
Trump seemed like he was having fun when he gave sumo champ Asanoyama a giant trophy weighing more than 60 pounds that needed help handling, because it was so heavy
The president and first lady dined in the Roppongi neighborhood at a hibachi restaurant with the Abes afterward.
In brief remarks to the press, Trump said: ‘The prime minister and I talked a lot today about trade, about military and various other things.’
He said it is his hope that Japan will keep the ‘beautiful trophy’ he brought for hundreds of years to come.
The menu for the evening was a first course of ‘Japanese potato with butter’ and a second course of ‘salad’ followed by a third course of ‘grilled chicken’ and fourth ‘Wagyu beef steak with broccoli and carrots.’
For dessert, they were vanilla ice cream, Trump’s favorite flavor.
