President Trump meets Abe in Japan

Updated 2:40 p.m. ET, May 28, 2019
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3:36 a.m. ET, May 27, 2019

Key takeaways from Trump's meeting with Abe

US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have wrapped up their bilateral talks and press conference.

Here are the key things to come out of it.

On Japan:

  • Japan agreed to buy 105 F-35 stealth planes from the US. Trump said: "(They're) stealth because the fact is you can't see them."
  • Trump said there was a huge trade imbalance with Japan, but added that the two countries were working on a trade deal.
  • Japan and the US will collaborate on sending astronauts to space. "We'll be going to the moon," Trump said.

On North Korea:

  • Trump said North Korea had enormous potential: "It's all waterfront property, it's a great location as we used to say in the real estate business."
  • Trump said he wasn't worried about the North Korean missile tests and added that they didn't violate UN resolutions, despite his national security adviser John Bolton saying just days ago that there was "no doubt" the tests were a violation.
  • Trump agreed with North Korea that former Vice President and current presidential candidate Joe Biden is a "low IQ individual."

On Iran:

  • Trump said he wasn't looking for a regime change in Iran -- instead, he wanted to see no nuclear weapons.

On China:

  • Trump said the US wasn't ready to make a trade deal with China, but added that he believed there will be a deal in the future.

President Donald Trump shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe prior to their working luncheon at the Akasaka guesthouse in Tokyo on May 27, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan.
President Donald Trump shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe prior to their working luncheon at the Akasaka guesthouse in Tokyo on May 27, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. Yoshikazu Tsuno - Pool/Getty Images

3:11 a.m. ET, May 27, 2019

North Korean missile tests didn't violate UN resolutions: Trump

By CNN's Kaitlan Collins

US President Donald Trump told reporters during a press conference in Tokyo that he did not think the latest North Korean missile tests violated United Nations (UN) resolutions. 

"My people think it could have been a violation," Trump said. "I view it differently." The President said that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could be a man "who wants to get attention."

He noted that there had been no nuclear tests and no long-range missiles had been fired.

When Trump said "my people" he was probably referring to his national security adviser, John Bolton, who just days ago said "there is no doubt" the tests violated the UN resolutions, a sentiment shared by the Japanese government. 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrives at the far-eastern Russian port of Vladivostok on April 24, 2019.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrives at the far-eastern Russian port of Vladivostok on April 24, 2019. KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images

It's a question that White House press secretary Sarah Sanders has refused to address on the television show "Meet the Press."

She said: "He still feels good about the relationship he has and about Chairman Kim's commitment he made to the President." 

2:56 a.m. ET, May 27, 2019

President Trump sides with North Korea on Biden, calling him a "low IQ individual"

President Donald Trump has sided with Kim Jong Un in his attacks of former Vice President Joe Biden. 

Last week, North Korean state media called Biden an "imbecile."

During the press conference in Tokyo Monday, Trump claimed that Biden is a "low IQ individual," adding that Kim is "probably right about that." 

Democratic presidential candidate, former US Vice President Joe Biden, speaks during a campaign kickoff rally, May 18, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Democratic presidential candidate, former US Vice President Joe Biden, speaks during a campaign kickoff rally, May 18, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

"Kim Jong Un made a statement that Joe Biden is a low IQ individual. He probably is, based on his record. I think I agree with him on that," Trump said.

Trump added that Biden and former President Obama were "basically a disaster," citing the Iran deal specifically. 

3:05 a.m. ET, May 27, 2019

Trump "not looking for regime change" in Iran

Kevin Liptak

US President Donald Trump made his most definitive statement to date that he's not looking to oust Iran's clerical leadership, instead insisting the country could have a bright future with its current leaders.

"We’re not looking for regime change. I want to make that clear," Trump said during the news conference in Tokyo. "We’re looking for no nuclear weapons."

Trump's Iran policy came under scrutiny after he deployed US troops to the Middle East in an attempt to dissuade provocative behavior by Tehran.

Some of Trump's advisers -- in particular, national security adviser John Bolton -- advocated for regime change in Iran before they joined the administration.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on September 26, 2018.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on September 26, 2018. DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

2:51 a.m. ET, May 27, 2019

Japan agrees to purchase warplanes from the US

Japan has agreed to buy 105 F-35 stealth planes from the US, US President Donald Trump said during the press conference.

Trump said Japan was one of the biggest purchasers of American defense equipment last year.

"(They're) stealth because the fact is you can't see them," he added.

2:50 a.m. ET, May 27, 2019

US "not ready" to make a trade deal with China: Trump

A China-US trade deal will happen -- but not just yet, US President Donald Trump said.

"We’re not ready to make a deal," Trump said in Tokyo, before offering a glimmer of hope.

"I think we will have a deal with China sometime into the future," Trump added.

However, the US leader noted that US farmers were behind him -- despite evidence otherwise -- in his decision to raise tariffs on China.

"I don't believe that China can continue to pay these hundreds of billions of dollars in tariffs," Trump said. "I think that there's a very good chance that the US and China will have a very good trade deal."

2:41 a.m. ET, May 27, 2019

Trump not worried about North Korea missile tests

When asked point blank if he was bothered by North Korean missile tests tests, US President Donald Trump replied simply: "I'm not. I personally am not." 

"I'm not in a rush," he added. "Tremendous sanctions (are) being put on the country of North Korea."

Trump said he thinks Kim is "looking to create a nation that has great strength economically," but added that "with nuclear that's never going to happen." 

He said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un understood that the country had enormous potential.

"It's all waterfront property, it's a great location as we used to say in the real estate business."

US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrive at their working luncheon on May 27, 2019, in Tokyo, Japan.
US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrive at their working luncheon on May 27, 2019, in Tokyo, Japan. Yoshikazu Tsuno - Pool/Getty Images

3:05 a.m. ET, May 27, 2019

We will have a deal with Japan, Trump says

The US will have trade deals with Japan and China in the future, US President Donald Trump said.

"We have an unbelievably large trade imbalance," he said of the trade relationship with Japan. "I think we will have a deal with Japan, likewise I think we will have a deal with China."

Trump added that the Chinese government was subsidizing a lot of industry -- and he didn't believe it could continue.

"Businesses are leaving China, by the hundreds, by the thousands," he said, adding that businesses would come to the US to avoid paying tariffs.

2:28 a.m. ET, May 27, 2019

"We'll be going to the moon:" Trump says Japan and US to work together on space missions

Japan and the US are planning to collaborate on space missions sending astronauts to the Moon and Mars, US President Donald Trump said after bilateral talks Monday.

"We'll be going to the moon. We'll be going to mars very soon," Trump said. "From a military standpoint, there is nothing more important right now than space," he added.

As well as joining forces on human space travel, Trump said the two countries wanted to improve their economic relationship, adding that they were working on a bilateral trade agreement.

He said they hoped to announce more on trade "very, very soon."

Trump said the trip had been a chance for him to strengthen his friendship with Abe. He also discussed the sumo tournament he went to Sunday.

"I've always wanted to see a sumo tournament, and they are bigger and stronger than I ever thought," Trump said.