Trump says Japan ‘knows about surprises’ in excruciating Pearl Harbour gaffe
Trump says Japan ‘knows about surprises’ in excruciating Pearl Harbour gaffe
During a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, President Trump made a remark so awkward it drew groans from reporters in the Oval Office. The US leader, while seated beside his counterpart, launched into a casual discussion about the Second World War, inadvertently highlighting his lack of historical knowledge.
His comment came after being asked why the US didn’t alert its allies before launching strikes against Iran last month. Trump began by explaining the strategy: “You don’t want to signal too much. When we go in, we went in very hard, and we didn’t tell anybody about it because we wanted… surprise.”
The phrase “surprise” seemed to trigger a moment of reflection, leading Trump to quip, “Who knows better about surprise than Japan?” The remark caused Takaichi to shift uncomfortably, as the audience behind the camera responded with hesitant laughter.
Trump continued, “And we had a surprise… because of that surprise, we probably knocked out 50% of what we did and much more than we anticipated doing.” This statement, though lighthearted, stirred memories of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbour, which killed 2,390 Americans and forced the US to declare war on Japan the following day.
Franklin D. Roosevelt famously called December 7, 1941 “a date which will live in infamy,” marking the beginning of a brutal four-year war across Asia. The conflict concluded with Japan’s surrender in August 1945 following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The Gaffe Unfolds
Trump’s recent remarks on Pearl Harbour have sparked debate, with critics pointing out his ignorance of the event’s timeline. Born five years after the attack, he yet posed the question to a Japanese reporter, seemingly unaware of the historical irony.
Takaichi, who recently secured a significant electoral win, has maintained a positive rapport with Trump. Their 2023 visit was seen as a sign of improved bilateral relations, though recent tensions over the US and Israeli conflict with Iran have complicated the dynamic.
In response to Trump’s demands for Japan’s support in securing the Strait of Hormuz, the country’s leaders offered a measured statement. The joint declaration with the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands affirmed their “shared readiness to contribute appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage” through the vital waterway.
Netanyahu’s Defense
Benjamin Netanyahu dedicated a major portion of his news conference to refuting claims that Israel pressured the US into the war with Iran. “This canard that we dragged the United States into this is not just a canard, it’s ridiculous,” he asserted.
He outlined a series of Iranian attacks and threats over the years, emphasizing Trump’s prior directive: “Bibi, we’ve got to make sure that Iran doesn’t have nuclear weapons.” Netanyahu concluded by praising Trump, stating, “The world owes a debt of deep indebtedness… to President Trump for leading this effort to safeguard our future.”
Meanwhile, the war with Iran has claimed notable losses. At least 16 US military aircraft have been destroyed since its outbreak, including 10 Reaper strike drones. The most severe incidents involved three F-15s shot down by a Kuwaiti pilot and a KC-135 tanker lost in a refueling mishap, resulting in the deaths of all six crew members.