President Donald Trump praised Japan’s outgoing leader, Shinzo Abe, as the greatest prime minister in Japan’s history, according to a White House readout of their call.
The White House said the two spoke “at length” Sunday evening Washington time, where Trump told Abe that he had done a fantastic job and that the U.S.-Japan relationship is better than it has ever been.
Abe said Friday that he would step down to undergo treatment for ulcerative colitis, a chronic digestive condition that also forced him to step down as premier in 2007. Abe has said he will step down when a leader is selected, likely later in September.
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