Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda Goes Full MAGA at Patriotic NASCAR Event in Japan

Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda made waves over the weekend after appearing in full MAGA gear at a red, white, and blue-themed NASCAR-style event at Fuji Speedway in Japan. The move comes just days before the company’s announcement of a nearly $1 billion boost in American manufacturing—a gesture many see as a strong nod of alignment with President Donald Trump’s economic agenda.

Wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat and a T-shirt bearing images of Trump and Vice President JD Vance, Toyoda stood out at the Toyota-sponsored endurance race, where American flags were flying and U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass made a public appearance. The display of U.S. patriotism on foreign soil raised eyebrows, especially given the timing.

“I’m not here to argue whether tariffs are good or bad. Every national leader wants to protect their own industry,” Toyoda said at the event. “We are exploring ways to make tariffs a winner for everyone. The people we want most to be winners are our customers.”

Toyoda’s comments echoed Trump’s own “America First” rhetoric, as the former president has consistently pushed for reshoring manufacturing and strengthening domestic industry. Trump recently visited Japan, where he hinted at more favorable trade terms for companies willing to invest on U.S. soil—particularly in energy, autos, and advanced technology.

Days after the event, Toyota made good on Toyoda’s promise, unveiling a major $923 million investment across several American manufacturing sites. The move is part of the company’s broader $10 billion plan to expand U.S. operations over the next few years.

“Customers are embracing Toyota’s hybrid vehicles, and our U.S. manufacturing teams are gearing up to meet that growing demand,” said Kevin Voelkel, senior vice president of Toyota Motor North America. “Toyota’s philosophy is to build where we sell, and by adding more American jobs and investing across our U.S. footprint, we continue to stay true to that philosophy.”

Among the key highlights of the investment:

• $453 million will go to Toyota’s plant in Buffalo, West Virginia, to boost production of four-cylinder, hybrid-compatible engines.

• $204 million is earmarked for Toyota’s massive Kentucky facility to scale up similar hybrid engine manufacturing.

The rest will be distributed among plants in Missouri, Alabama, and Tennessee.

Akio Toyoda, who has long been a motorsport enthusiast, has grown increasingly vocal in global trade discussions and has maintained a strong relationship with Trump, dating back to the early days of his presidency. Industry insiders say his MAGA-themed appearance is more than just a publicity stunt—it’s a deliberate message to both Washington and Tokyo.

With global automakers facing tightening emissions rules, rising EV mandates, and turbulent international trade dynamics, Toyota appears to be doubling down on its hybrid strategy—one that aligns well with Trump’s push for energy independence and American-made innovation.

The visual of Toyoda in Trump gear at a Japanese racetrack may have seemed like a surprise, but given the company’s business direction and geopolitical signals, it was no accident.