Biden Speaks to Japanese PM Kishida After Abe’s Death, Trump in Talks About Attending Funeral

President Joe Biden held a phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and former President Donald Trump has been talking to the family of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe about attending Abe’s funeral.

Abe, 67, was assassinated on Friday during an election campaign speech in Nara, Japan, by a man with a handmade gun. Abe’s death was officially declared hours later.

Biden called Kishida over the phone on Friday “to express his outrage, sadness, and deep condolences on the tragic and violent shooting death of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo,” according to a White House readout of the call.

“The President underscored that he and the American people stand with the Prime Minister and the people of Japan in their time of mourning,” the readout states.

“The President noted the importance of Prime Minister Abe’s enduring legacy with his vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, and the establishment of the QUAD meetings of Japan, the United States, Australia, and India.

“The President noted our unwavering confidence in the strength of Japan’s democracy and the two leaders discussed how Abe Shinzo’s legacy will live on as we continue the important task of defending peace and democracy.”

(L-R) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend the Quad Fellowship Founding Celebration event in Tokyo, Japan, on May 24, 2022. (Yuichi Yamazaki/Getty Images)

The White House also published a joint statement on Friday from Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing shock at Abe’s assassination.

“Abe was a transformative leader for Japan and for Japanese relations with each one of our countries. He also played a formative role in the founding of the Quad partnership, and worked tirelessly to advance a shared