Donald Trump tells new Japanese prime minister US is an ‘ally at strongest level’

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi gestures as US President Donald Trump delivers his speech during their visit to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo (Eugene Hoshiko/AP)

President Donald Trump has taken new Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi to speak to US troops aboard an aircraft carrier during his tour of Asia.

Mr Trump, who is trying to agree a 550 billion-dollar (£413 billion) Japanese investment as part of a trade deal, paid Ms Takaichi a compliment when they met, telling her: “That’s a very strong handshake.”