Trump & Japan: Pearl Harbor Mockery & Iran War Risk

Donald Trump evoked the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor while hosting Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the Oval Office on Thursday, prompting a stunned reaction from the visiting leader and sparking criticism.

Trump’s Remark on Pearl Harbor

Following questions regarding the current conflict in Iran, Trump was asked by a Japanese reporter why U.S. allies weren’t informed before any military action. Trump responded by emphasizing the element of surprise, asking, “Who knows better about surprise than Japan?” He then followed up by asking, “Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor?”

The remark caused a visible reaction from Takaichi, who widened her eyes and shifted in her chair. The attack on Pearl Harbor, which occurred on December 7, 1941, resulted in the deaths of 2,390 Americans and led to the United States declaring war on Japan the following day. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt famously called the day “a date which will live in infamy.”

The U.S. ultimately defeated Japan in August 1945, after atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians.

Trump’s supporters praised his response, with his son Eric posting on social media that it was “One of the great responses to a reporter in history!”

Critics, however, expressed dismay. Journalist Mehdi Hasan described the moment as “legit hilarious” but added that it was unsettling given Trump’s position as president.

This is not the first time Trump has made an awkward comment regarding historical events. Last year, when Germany’s chancellor brought up D-Day, Trump reportedly responded that it was “not a pleasant day” for the chancellor.