Donald Trump hosted Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the White House last week in order to seek her nation’s support in his war against Iran. However, Trump took the opportunity to make an ill-timed and inappropriate joke about Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II and is immediately facing backlash for behaving so immaturely in front of another world leader. Keep reading for more information.
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Donald Trump Makes Inappropriate Pearl Harbor Joke
One of the main goals of Trump's meeting with Prime Minister Takaichi was for him to convince her to help defend the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping path for oil, from Iranian threats. When the floor was opened to questions from reporters, one Japanese journalist asked Trump why he didn't consult or inform his allies, including Japan, before waging war against Iran with his February 28 attack.
"We didn't tell anyone about it, because we wanted surprise," Trump responded. "Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Okay, why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor?" he joked.
Takaichi's face immediately fell and she looked to be taking several deep breaths while some of the reporters in the room laughed. "You believe in surprise, I think, much more so than us," Trump doubled down.
Social Media Reactions
Social media users didn’t hold back, quickly flooding X with criticism. "That is unbelievably awful," one person wrote. "Making a joke about Pearl Harbor at an event like this is beyond tone deaf—it’s deeply disrespectful." "He is so completely out of touch," another person posted.
"This is beyond disrespectful," another wrote. "There’s a time and place, and this wasn't it."
"Read the room. Seriously," one person added.
"Not funny. Not appropriate. Not ever," wrote another.
"A Pearl Harbor joke? At that event? Yikes," a final user wrote.
