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DeSantis, Youngkin visit Asia amid rumored White House bids

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Two Republican governors, both rumored to be considering presidential runs, made trips to the Asia region to meet with foreign leaders during the week of April 23. The visits coincide with heightened U.S. efforts to counter Chinese influence, TIME reports.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as part of a four-country tour billed as an “international trade mission.”

During their meeting, Kishida expressed his hope that DeSantis’ visit will contribute to further strengthening of Japan’s relationship with the United States as well as Florida.

DeSantis also applauded Japan’s recent military expansion efforts.

“We understand it’s a tough neighborhood out here and we really believe that a strong Japan is good for America, and a strong America is good for Japan,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis also announced that he will be traveling to South Korea, Israel and the United Kingdom on this trip.

When asked about trailing behind former President Donald Trump in hypothetical 2024 Republican primary polls, DeSantis replied, “I’m not a candidate so we’ll see if and when that changes.”

Meanwhile, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin was also in the Asia region on a separate trade mission and met with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen.

During the meeting, Youngkin announced that his state would open a Taiwan trade office, according to a statement from the Presidential Office in Taipei, as reported by TIME.

Youngkin is also believed to be eyeing a presidential run and is expected to visit Tokyo and Seoul, South Korea, as the trade mission continues.

According to an April poll from the Wall Street Journal, former President Donald Trump currently leads the Republican field with 48% among Republican primary voters, in a potential field of 12 Republican contenders. DeSantis trails behind with 24%, while Youngkin polled at 1% or less.

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DESANTIS: I’M NOT A CANDIDATE SO WE’LL SEE IF AND WHEN THAT CHANGES

 

THAT’S RON DESANTIS SHRUGGING OFF CHATTER OF A PRESIDENTIAL RUN. 

 

THE FLORIDA GOVERNOR WHO IS YET TO FORMALLY ANNOUNCE A 2024 BID WASN’T TOURING THE US THIS WEEK .. *HE WAS IN JAPAN*

 

MEETING WITH JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER FUMIO KISHIDA AS PART OF A FOUR COUNTRY TOUR DESANTIS WAS GIVEN A PLATFORM TO BEEF UP HIS FOREIGN POLICY CREDENTIALS… IN TOKYO HE PRAISED JAPAN’S RECENT MILITARY EXPANSION CALLING IT GOOD FOR AMERICA

DESANTIS: WE UNDERSTAND IT’S A TOUGH NEIGHBORHOOD OUT HERE AND WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT A STRONG JAPAN IS GOOD FOR AMERICA, AND A STRONG AMERICA IS GOOD FOR JAPAN

 

MEANWHILE ANOTHER GOP LEADER WAS IN THE REGION AS WELL – VIRGINIA GOVERNOR GLENN YOUNGKIN MET WITH TAIWAN’S PRESIDENT MONDAY ON A TRADE MISSION

 

YOUNGKIN: I’M GRATEFUL FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR STRONG LEADERSHIP

 

YOUNGKIN IS ALSO BELIEVED TO BE EYEING A PRESIDENTIAL RUN AND WILL REPORTEDLY VISIT JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA IN THE COMING DAYS

 

DESPITE THE 2024 RUMORS – ONE PERSON CURRENTLY LEADS THE REPUBLICAN FIELD

 

APRIL POLLING FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL SHOWS DONALD TRUMP AT 48% AMONG REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS –  WITH DESANTIS TRAILING ABOUT 20 POINTS BEHIND AND YOUNGKIN FAIRING AT 1% OR LESS