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By Alia Shoaib
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Donald Trump lamented that the U.S. doesn't have bullet trains—despite taking actions to hinder high-speed rail development as president.
Trump praised Japan's high-speed passenger trains during a live audio conversation with Elon Musk on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday.
Speaking about bullet trains, Trump said: "They go unbelievably fast, unbelievably comfortable with no problems, and we don't have anything like that in this country. Not even close. And it doesn't make sense that we don't, doesn't make sense."
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In recent years, the U.S. has begun planning and investing in a number of high-speed rail projects in various places, including California.
In 2019, the Trump administration canceled a $929 million grant to California's high-speed rail project that had been allocated by the Obama administration.
Trump described the project, which had been beset by ongoing delays and mounting costs, as a "disaster." President Joe Biden restored the revoked grant in 2021.
Trump's comments were met with a mixed reaction on social media.
British political commentator Piers Morgan wrote on X: "Listening to @elonmusk & @realDonaldTrump chat about trains just now was surprisingly fascinating. Love this @XSpaces conversation.. it's like two mates chewing the fat about the world's problems."
Meanwhile, HuffPost reporter Igor Bobic pointed out that Trump was responsible for previously derailing California's high-speed rail funding.
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Newsweek contacted Trump's presidential campaign for comment via email outside of regular working hours.
Japan's Shinkansen, commonly known as bullet trains, form a high-speed rail network capable of reaching speeds up to 199 mph.
In comparison, the fastest U.S. passenger trains, like the current Acela, are designed to speeds up to 150 mph on certain sections.
Two high-speed rail projects in the U.S. have seen progress this year after years of stagnation.
Construction on the 125 mph Brightline West, which plans to connect the Los Angeles area with Las Vegas, broke ground in April. And the new generation of Amtrak Acela trains, which are planned to travel between Boston and Washington, D.C., began testing in January.
Ray LaHood, who served as the transportation secretary under President Barack Obama, previously told Newsweek that a second Trump presidency could be "the death knell for high-speed rail" in the country.
He noted some Republicans do support high-speed rail but are generally more skeptical "because it's an idea that was started by Obama and Biden," and "they'd rather invest in roads and bridges."
LaHood previously said that he believed a historic lack of investment is the reason the U.S. doesn't have a high-speed rail network comparable to those of Japan, western Europe and China.
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