Trump invokes Pearl Harbor in front of Japanese prime minister to defend Iran attack secrecy
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (left) meets with U.S. President Donald Trump during a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on March 19, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Alex Wong | Getty Images
In a distinctly awkward moment in the Oval Office in the United States on Thursday, US President Donald Trump referenced Pearl Harbor during his first meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi following his landslide election victory.
When asked by a Japanese reporter why the United States did not inform allies such as Japan before carrying out the attacks against Iran on February 28, the US president said it was to preserve the element of surprise.
“Who would know that better? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor? You believe in surprise more than I do.”
Trump was talking about surprise Japanese attack on the US Pacific Fleet The incident in 1941 resulted in the deaths of more than 2,400 personnel and dragged the United States into World War II.
Takaichi He looked like he took a deep breath. and leaned back in his chair with an uneasy expression.
“Who would know that better? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor? You believe in surprise more than I do.”
Donald Trump
US President
Trump said the surprise attack helped the United States, adding that the attack “destroyed 50% of what we expected” in Iran in the first two days.
During the meeting, Trump praised Japan for “stepping in” to assist efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz, “unlike NATO.”
Before the meeting, in addition to Japan, England, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands had issued a statement. joint statement Expressing that they are ready to “contribute to the necessary efforts to ensure safe passage through the Bosphorus”.
Trump had called on Japan and other countries to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, but Takaichi did not accept this. It was reported that on Monday He said there were no plans to send navy ships to escort boats in the Middle East.
His office also said this In a post on X “There is no specific request from the United States to send ships to Japan,” he said.
prime minister of japan on tuesday He said that the government is evaluating what can be done within the framework of the country’s law. Japan’s Self-Defense Forces are governed by its pacifist constitution, which rejects war and the threat or use of force to resolve international disputes.
Trump took aim at NATO allies earlier this week, saying the alliance “made a very stupid mistake” not joining the war.
In response, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius reportedly said on Monday, “This is not our war, we didn’t start it”; This attitude was also adopted by French President Emmanuel Macron.
“We have declared that as long as the war continues, we will not participate in ensuring freedom of navigation, for example by military means, in the Strait of Hormuz,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Thursday. According to Reuters.
