Photo/Illutration Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is now running for the Republican Party's presidential nomination, appears at a caucus night party in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 15. (AP Photo)

Former Prime Minister Taro Aso may have had a hidden agenda for his recent visit to the United States, trying to arrange a meeting with a former occupant of the White House. 

Aso, currently the vice president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, spoke at an event sponsored by a U.S. think tank and met with U.S. government officials.

But according to sources, Aso also tried to meet with former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is on the comeback trail. 

Aso visited the United States between Jan. 9 and 13.

His trip was ostensibly to pave the way for a scheduled visit later this spring to the United States by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

But political insiders were also watching to see if Aso would meet with Trump.

Watching nervously over Aso’s moves were high-ranking Foreign Ministry officials who place more emphasis on working with the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden.

According to sources, those close to Trump had sent out feelers to Aso from 2023 through various avenues. One source said Trump has indicated that the only Japanese politicians he remembers are Aso and former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

That comment likely spurred Aso to try to fulfill a role of conduit to Trump should he win the U.S. presidential election in November since Abe was assassinated in July 2022.

After speaking at the U.S. think tank event in Washington on Jan. 10, Aso was asked by local reporters if he had plans to meet with anyone from the Trump camp.

Aso replied, “I have no such plans, but if I were to hold a meeting it would be more appropriate to meet with one of his advisers.”

Sources said that Aso attended a dinner reception on Jan. 10 at which he spoke with U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty, who served as U.S. ambassador to Japan under Trump.

The following day, Aso went to New York. Trump was in New York the same day to attend a court session in a civil fraud trial in which he is a defendant.

But no meeting was held between Trump and Aso, according to sources, in part, because Trump didn’t have the time since he was in the midst of campaigning in the Iowa Republican Party caucus.

But Aso told associates, “I left a sign that I wanted to meet with him since I did go to New York.”

Kishida served as foreign minister when Trump was president.

Kishida told associates, “Trump described Aso as a ‘tough negotiator.’ It is preferable to have various avenues of access.”

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