Furious Japan Issues Major Threat to Trump

Summary

The MeidasTouch Podcast: "Furious Japan Issues Major Threat to Trump" – Detailed Summary

Episode Title: Furious Japan Issues Major Threat to Trump
Release Date: May 4, 2025
Host: MeidasTouch Network (Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas)

---

Overview

In the episode titled "Furious Japan Issues Major Threat to Trump," the Meiselas brothers delve deep into the escalating tensions between the United States and Japan under the Trump administration. Combining sharp political analysis with their signature brotherly banter, they explore the ramifications of Trump's aggressive trade policies, Japan's formidable response, and the broader implications for global diplomacy and the U.S. economy.

---

US-Japan Trade Tensions

Escalating Trade Disputes

The episode opens with the Political Commentator addressing the fraught trade negotiations between the U.S. and Japan. He highlights Japan's Finance Minister, Katsunobu Kato's stern warning to President Trump:

Political Commentator [00:59]: "If you treat us in Japan with disrespect over these tariff negotiations, we could use the nuclear option... We have the largest holdings of U.S. treasuries in the world, totaling over 1 trillion."

Despite Trump's promises of imminent deals, the commentator underscores the lack of progress, emphasizing the breakdown in negotiations and Japan's reluctance to concede without reciprocity.

Trump's Unfulfilled Promises

The brothers critique Trump's repeated assurances of forthcoming deals with Japan and India, which remain unfulfilled. The commentator points out the discrepancy between Trump's statements and the actual state of negotiations:

Political Commentator [00:59]: "It's right around the corner that has not taken place, despite all of Donald Trump's lies that it's going to happen."

---

Japan's Response and Threats

Strong Stance from Japanese Leaders

Japan's Prime Minister, Ashiba, has taken a firm stance, refusing to rush negotiations and demanding fair treatment. The Political Commentator cites Ashiba's remarks:

Japanese Negotiator [05:07]: "What the United States is saying is completely unreasonable... If Japan gives in and follows their unreasonable demand... it will set a bad example."

This clip illustrates Japan's frustration with what they perceive as Trump's extortionate tactics, rejecting any concessions that could undermine their negotiating position.

Strategic Leverage

Japan's significant holdings of U.S. treasuries provide it with substantial leverage. The commentator explains Japan's willingness to potentially dump these holdings as a means to destabilize U.S. markets if disrespected:

Political Commentator [00:59]: "Japan's prepared to use its role as America's largest [U.S. treasuries holder] as leverage in the trade talks."

This threat underscores the severity of the trade impasse and Japan's readiness to take drastic measures to protect its interests.

---

Trump's Missteps and Their Impact

Inconsistent and Unfounded Claims

Trump's rhetoric has further strained relations. During a speech at the University of Alabama, Trump made unfounded claims about Japan's trade practices, specifically accusing them of conducting a so-called "bowling ball test" on U.S. cars—a practice that Japan does not engage in.

Donald Trump [08:12]: "Pretty soon, sooner than most people think because that's what other countries have been doing to us. Just so you understand, they were tariffing the hell out of us... We couldn't do anything."

The commentator criticizes Trump for these baseless accusations, highlighting his lack of understanding of actual trade practices:

Political Commentator [08:12]: "Trump has no clue what the hell he's talking about."

Market Manipulation and Economic Fallout

Trump's approach to trade negotiations is portrayed as manipulative, aimed at spiking stock prices through misleading information before the market inevitably crashes:

Political Commentator [05:07]: "It's all market manipulation. They go tell this to Wall street, they spike the stock prices for a few days, then they get dumped. Main street gets hurt."

This strategy not only jeopardizes economic stability but also erodes trust among investors and the general public.

---

Insights from Former Ambassador Rahm Emanuel

Importance of U.S.-Japan Relations

The episode features an insightful interview with former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel. Emanuel emphasizes the multifaceted importance of Japan to the United States:

Rahm Emanuel [13:17]: "Japan hosts the largest military footprint the United States has anywhere in the world... It's the only country that has a permanent aircraft carrier. It is the long pole in our deterrence against China in the Indo Pacific."

He underscores that the U.S.-Japan relationship transcends economic ties, encompassing national security and diplomatic support essential for countering regional threats, particularly from China.

Economic Interdependence

Emanuel highlights the deep economic integration between the two nations, noting Japan's significant investments and employment in the U.S.:

Rahm Emanuel [13:17]: "Japan's the number one foreign direct investor in the United States... nearly half of their investment goes to manufacturing."

This interdependence means that any disruption in trade negotiations not only affects political relations but also the livelihoods of millions of Americans.

Collaborative Efforts Against China

Emanuel points out the necessity of unified efforts with allies like Japan to effectively implement sanctions and export controls against China:

Rahm Emanuel [13:17]: "Imagine when the United States wants to put further sanctions on China... Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the Dutch stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States."

This collaboration is crucial for the success of U.S. foreign policy initiatives aimed at curbing China's influence.

---

Broader Implications for U.S. Foreign Policy

Strained Alliances and Global Perception

Trump's aggressive stance has not only strained U.S.-Japan relations but has also affected perceptions among other allies. The Political Commentator observes:

Political Commentator [11:56]: "If leaders are obsequious to Donald Trump and try to appease Donald Trump, they're punished at the ballot box."

This dynamic suggests that Trump's behavior may be undermining the cohesion and reliability of U.S. alliances worldwide.

Coordinated International Responses

China's move to collaborate with Japan and South Korea in response to Trump's tariff measures indicates a strategic shift in regional dynamics:

Political Commentator [11:56]: "The Chinese government sent a letter a few weeks back to Japanese Prime Minister Ashiba calling for a coordinated response to US President Donald Trump's tariff measures."

This coordination among key regional players poses a significant challenge to Trump's unilateral approach, potentially leading to more robust and unified opposition against U.S. trade policies.

---

Conclusion

The episode "Furious Japan Issues Major Threat to Trump" provides a comprehensive analysis of the deteriorating U.S.-Japan relations under President Trump. Through detailed discussions, expert interviews, and compelling clips, the Meiselas brothers illuminate the complexities of international trade negotiations, the strategic leverage held by Japan, and the broader implications for U.S. foreign policy and economic stability. The episode serves as a critical examination of Trump's handling of alliances and trade disputes, highlighting the potential long-term consequences of his administration's actions on both national and global stages.

Notable Quotes:

• Political Commentator [00:59]: "Japan's prepared to use its role as America's largest [U.S. treasuries holder] as leverage in the trade talks."
• Japanese Negotiator [05:07]: "What the United States is saying is completely unreasonable... If Japan gives in and follows their unreasonable demand... it will set a bad example."
• Donald Trump [08:12]: "Pretty soon, sooner than most people think because that's what other countries have been doing to us."
• Rahm Emanuel [13:17]: "Japan's the number one foreign direct investor in the United States... nearly half of their investment goes to manufacturing."

---

This summary encapsulates the critical discussions and insights presented in the episode, providing listeners with a thorough understanding of the key issues surrounding the U.S.-Japan trade tensions and their broader implications.

Transcript

[Ad Sponsor]

This episode is brought to you by Lifelock. Not everyone is careful with your personal information, which might explain why there's a victim of identity theft every five seconds in the U.S. fortunately, there's LifeLock. LifeLock monitors hundreds of millions of data points a second for threats to your identity. If your identity is stolen, a US based restoration specialist will fix it, guaranteed or your money back. Save up to 40% your first year by visiting lifelock.com podcast terms apply.

[Sports Analyst]

The NBA playoffs are here and I'm getting my best in on FanDuel. Talk to me, Chuck GPT what do you know? All sorts of interesting stuff. Even Charles Barkley's greatest fear. Hey, nobody needs to know that new customers bet $5 to get 200 in bonus bets if you win FanDuel America's number one sportsbook 21 plus in President select states must be first online real money wager $5 deposit required. Bonus issued is non withdrawable bonus bets that expires seven days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See full [e-mail] Sportsbook Gambling Problem Call.

[Political Commentator]

1 A Gambler Japan's Finance minister, Katsunubo Kato, had a powerful message for the United States. If you treat us in Japan with disrespect over these tariff negotiations, we could use the nuclear option. We have the largest holdings of U.S. treasuries in the world, totaling over 1 trillion. You treat us with disrespect, Donald. We will dump those and we can crash the United States markets. So don't test us, don't treat us with disrespect, don't dishonor us. And Japan has objected to the way the United States has presented these trade proposals. Now, this should be an easy deal to make with Japan. We already had a trade deal with Japan in 2018 that Donald Trump negotiated. And now that Donald Trump wants to dishonor Japan, treat Japan with disrespect, Japan is objecting to the trade proposal. Um, and right now there's been no deal. Now Donald Trump has told us what week after week after week we're about to do a deal with Japan. I'm about to do a deal with India and Japan. We're announcing it. It's right around the corner. It's right around the corner that has not taken place, despite all of Donald Trump's lies that it's going to happen. And to me, this is a major indicator again, because the deal with Japan should be the easiest deals. Now, we got a whiff that things were going very bad when Japan's Prime Minister ashiba, back on April 21, 2025, said, we're not rushing into anything. We want to strike a fair deal. We don't want to be disrespected. And Japan just can't keep on conceding things to the US without getting anything in return. Japan is not going to do that. Then messages got out that a deal with Japan may not take days, but may be weeks away. And you know, one of the things that we're learning about as well is, and you see right here, Japan's lead tariff negotiator, Roy Se Akazawa, just says things just generally are not going good. And Prime Minister Ashiba's administration saying Japan's prepared to use its role as America's largest as leverage in the trade talks. So if that's how our close allies are treating us, how do you think the rest of the world is viewing us right now? I wanted to show you some data points here as well. Why is Japan saying this now? Well, if you've been watching the Midas Touch Network, you know, we've been following. We've been following Prime Minister Ashiba's actions. One of the things that Japan saw that they took big notice of the elections in Canada, you go, how could the elections in Canada impact Japan? It's why on this network we have a global focus. So you can see the connections. The same reason that the Canadian elections also had a big impact on the Australian elections. And it's the Trump effect. When Trump is dishonoring nations, treating nations like crap, a resistance rises against Donald Trump. And if leaders are obsequious to Donald Trump and try to appease Donald Trump, they're punished at the ballot box. Take a look at the Japan Times, for example. The Trump effect on elections is just beginning, including in Japan. And this article talks about how the governing party in Japan is worried that the government could be toppled by the opposition party if they strike a bad deal with Trump. Look weak and they get mocked by Donald Trump. Let me show you an opposition party member of Parliament. I've showed this clip before, but it's worth playing right now. Here's an opposition member and here's what he has to say. Here, play this clip.

[Japanese Negotiator]

What the shit the United States is saying is completely unreasonable. The logic is all over the place and there's no consistency. However, when Japan negotiates regarding what they're saying, well, to put it clearly, it's close to extortion by juvenile delinquents. If Japan gives in and follows their unreasonable demand, saying its negotiation or ordeal it will set a bad precedent and create a negative example. If the extorter gains money once it's certain that they will extort again, the formula itself is a complete mess. I wasn't great at math, but if that showed up in a math exam, it would definitely score zero. That's why although Minister Akazawa is serious and capable, there is also concern about whether a serious person can handle it. Since they are not reasonable, they won't listen to reasonable things. Although I said every option, you absolutely must not provide information to an unreasonable opponent. If you get concessions that way, it will set a bad example. Anyway, please do not give in today. Extortion from the US Though it's really bad to say, but this is extortion. If we listen to this, it will really become a bad example.

[Productivity Expert]

So you ever sit down to work and your brain just won't cooperate? That was me for so long. I'd find myself getting distracted scrolling through social media, just totally unable to focus. Especially. Especially with a job like this where I need to stay locked in. Productive, creative and on top of the news. Distractions aren't just annoying, they can derail everything. Then I found Brain FM and it's been a game changer. Brain FM is an app built for anyone seeking to boost productivity. They create science backed music that syncs brain patterns, helping you focus better, relax deeper and sleep easier. I use their deep work and creative modes daily. It's like flipping a switch in my brain. There's even a turbo mode specifically designed for ADHD support. And this isn't hype. Brain FM is the only music company supported by a National Science foundation grant and just published a peer reviewed study showing their patented tech improves attention and brainwave synchrony. Unlock your brain's full potential free for 30 days by going to brain fm/midas that's brain dot fm. Midas, that's me. I d a s for 30 days free.

[Political Commentator]

Going back to the other data point that I wanted to talk about with Trump's data disrespect as well. On was Thursday Donald Trump spoke where University of Alabama. He gave that disrespectful speech where he was like doing the. Remember he was doing that move. It was. The whole thing was just so utterly weird. Go back and watch the video that I did on that. Be like Ben, what the hell are you talking about? Go and watch it. But here Donald Trump says that the US can sell cars in Japan because it's tariffing the hell out of the United States. Japan hasn't imposed A tariff on car imports since 1978. Trump has no clue what the hell he's talking about.

[Donald Trump]

Play this clip Pretty soon, sooner than most people think because that's what other countries have been doing to us. Just so you understand, they were tariffing the hell out of us. We couldn't sell cars in Europe, we couldn't sell cars in China. We couldn't sell cars in Japan or anywhere else. We could, couldn't do anything.

[Political Commentator]

Now the Financial Times reported last week that Donald Trump is attacking Japan over a, quote, bowling ball test. That is that Donald Trump takes issue with. Where Donald Trump says in Japan, in addition to tariffing our cars, which they don't, they drop bowling balls. So what Donald Trump says, but is it crazy? They drop bowling balls on the roofs of our cars and then when the cars break, they say we're not buying American. Trump has, quote, puzzled trade negotiators in Tokyo after complaining about a test where he claims a bowling ball is dropped on a car. Japan does not carry out such tests. Here's from April 24, 2025. This was Charles Gasparino from Fox's Big Scoop. People inside the Trump White House are alerting Wall street execs they are nearing an agreement in principle on trade with India. According to my sources, Gasparina Warns, we've been here with Japan, but there has not been any deals yet with Japan. It's all market manipulation. They go tell this to Wall street, they spike the stock prices for a few days, then they get dumped. Main street gets hurt. And the billionaire oligarchs who get the tips from the Trump regime about when they're gonna message these things and not do them, they make money and we the people get absolutely screwed over these things. Right here. Japan's press secretary Kitamura Toshishiro, he was in the Philippines this past week talking about the bilateral relationships with the Philippines, broader relations in the region as well. Here's what he talks about in terms of dealing with Trump. And I want you to when you watch it, I want you to see how Japan's press secretary Kitamura Toshihiro just how composed he is and contrasted to Trump's behavior. Play this clip.

[Japanese Press Secretary]

This morning our prime minister met representative of Japanese community here and they he heard the every concerns and opinions of local businessman and with regard to the US Tariff issues. Our prime minister had the telephone conversation with President Trump early this month and they have decided to establish to launch ministerial dialogue between two countries. And Minister Akazawa was designated as a chief of negotiator. And he had already once a ministerial discussions in Washington D.C. and now he's visiting to Washington D.C. to hold second round of this negotiation. And as for the U.S. tariff issues, I think that the tariff actions could affect a lot on the global economy as well as this free trade system. So we heard the concerns of the Japanese community this morning as well. And we based on those opinions, concerns, we convey our message to our counterpart of the US and we hope that we can find a good solution between two countries which is not only good for two countries, but good for the world, including Philippines.

[Political Commentator]

And finally I had the opportunity a few weeks back to do this interview with the United States, the former US Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel. And if you want, when do we, we did this in March, right? Mid March actually. I think we did it before the Liberation Day, you know, or liquidation day, I think, or right around then. We were warning about this months ago. Japan, China, Philippines. And it was important for me to give us the red, you know, to give you all the warnings because you could just follow the data. If you speak to the experts and you follow the data like if you follow the freight levels, if you follow the trucking volumes, if you see the ships aren't coming into the ports on the west coast, Long Beach, Seattle, East Coast, Boston, you go, oh crap, we're gonna run out of supplies. Yeah, it's gonna happen. There's gonna be a Tom Hanks moment. I call it a Tom Hanks moment. Remember Donald Trump said like a miracle, it's all gonna go away with COVID Then Tom Hanks got it like, oh shit, lockdown mode. We're going to have a Tom Hanks moment soon with stuff not being on the shelves. That's what's going to happen. Anyway. Here's former ambassador Rahm Emanuel to Japan. That's why we had to get him on. We need to speak to him about this. Here, play this clip.

[Rahm Emanuel]

Japan's the number one foreign direct investor in the United States for the last four years consecutively, over a million Americans or a million Americans work for Japanese companies and nearly half of their investment goes to manufacturing. So it's a kind of, you know, we're going to kind of be penny wise and dollar foolish here. Second, you know, Japan hosts the largest military footprint the United States has anywhere in the world. It's the only country that has a permanent aircraft carrier. It is in the, it is the long pole in our deterrence against China in the Indo Pacific. And so, you know, nothing stays just in the economic lane. It's a relationship. So that means national security, diplomatic support, it means political support, and it means economic support and integration. Second, imagine this. When the United States wants to put further sanctions on China as it relates to export controls for high tech, the only way it's successful is Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the Dutch stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States. They're going to think real hard about whether we should stand with the United States or allow our companies to continue to export to China. So, you know, relationships don't just have one lane. It's a series of things. You weigh equities against each other. So I think this is very short sighted in this approach. There's a way you could have approached, as we did in years past, both when I worked for President Clinton, we did the five pillars on trade, et cetera. Japan now is the number one, as I said, number one foreign investor in the United States. Nearly a million Americans work for them and of those, half are in the manufacturing industrial space.

[Political Commentator]

So powerful words from Japan saying ain't happening. We're prepared to use our treasury holdings if you dishonor and if you disrespect us. Also, as we previously reported, and Reuters and Carl Quintanilla did a good job of highlighting this too, the Chinese government sent a letter a few weeks back to Japanese Prime Minister Ashiba calling for a coordinated response to US President Donald Trump's tariff measures. They had a ministerial level meeting. Japan, South Korea and China. Does that sound familiar? Former President Biden brought that's why China did it. That's why Xi Jinping did it. He knows Trump's too stupid to get it. Former President Biden brought together those leaders in Washington together, side by side, shoulder to shoulder as a deterrent to China was the ultimate checkmate move. Donald Trump took the checkmates and like, took the ch and turned them into checkers and then put them all over his face like a fool. That's what happened. We'll keep you posted with more. But he can't do a deal with Japan. No deal. Donald can't do a deal with anybody. Hit subscribe let's get to 5 million. Can't get enough Midas. Check out the Midas+ substack for AD. Free Articles, reports, podcasts, daily recaps from.

[Productivity Expert]

Ron Filipkowski and more.

[Political Commentator]

Sign up for free [e-mail].