Photo: Alamy
President Donald Trump responded to the news of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s assassination in a reflective post on Truth Social.
“Really BAD NEWS FOR THE WORLD!” Trump declared. “Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is dead. He was assassinated. His killer was captured and will hopefully be dealt with swiftly and harshly.”
The 45th president also noted, “Few people know what a great man and leader Shinzo Abe was, but history will teach them and be kind. He was a unifier like no other, but above all, he was a man who loved and cherished his magnificent country, Japan.”
Abe resigned in 2020 and was previously Japan’s longest-serving leader, according to a report from the Associated Press. Shockingly, Abe was assassinated on a street in Japan by a man who shot at him from behind while he was making campaign remarks.
The Associated Press further reported that the gunman was arrested in Nara, Japan, on the scene and identified as Tetsuya Yamagami. Police said that he used a gun that he reportedly made at home.
“Abe will be greatly missed,” Trump continued in his statement. “There will never be another like him!”
Japan’s current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told the press, “I really hoped that he would survive. I’m deeply sorry to hear the news and I have no words to express my feelings. I pray from the bottom of my heart that he may rest in peace.”
Immediately following reports that Abe had been shot and was in critical condition, President Trump called the news of the assassination attempt “absolutely devastating.”
“He was a true friend of mine and, much more importantly, America,” Trump added. “This is a tremendous blow to the wonderful people of Japan, who loved and admired him so much.”
