Former President Trump and Japan's Shinzo Abe in 2017. Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Former President Trump reacted to the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday, calling him a "unifier like no other."
What he's saying: "Really BAD NEWS FOR THE WORLD! Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is dead. He was assassinated. His killer was captured and will hopefully be dealt with swiftly and harshly," Trump said on his social media platform, Truth Social.
- "Few people know what a great man and leader Shinzo Abe was, but history will teach them and be kind. He was a unifier like no other, but above all, he was a man who loved and cherished his magnificent country, Japan. Shinzo Abe will be greatly missed. There will never be another like him."
Between the lines: Trump and Abe were considered to be close, with the prime minister referring to the former president as "trustworthy" in 2017.
- They both regularly underscored the importance of maintaining good U.S.-Japan relations.
The big picture: Abe, who was Japan's longest-serving prime minister, died earlier Friday after being shot while giving a campaign speech.
- His assassination has drawn outrage and strong condemnation from leaders around the world.