Letter: Trump Embarrasses with Rude Pearl Harbor Quip | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Why Japan Is Not Laughing at Trump’s Pearl Harbor Jokes

On March 19, 2026, a truly remarkable scene unfolded in the Oval Office. President Donald Trump, hosting Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, decided to explain his decision to launch a massive bombing campaign against Iran without notifying his allies. His justification was simple. He wanted the element of surprise. Then came the punchline. Turning to Takaichi, he asked, “Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn’t you tell me abou…

Letter: Trump embarrasses with rude Pearl Harbor quip | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

I am embarrassed to call myself an American. Although I didn’t vote for Donald Trump, he manages to constantly behave in a way that embarrasses our country. This time, in response to a question about why allies received no advance notice of the assault on Iran, he said this in front of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Taka- ichi: “We didn’t tell anybody about it because we wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn’t you …

Surprise, embarrassment, unease in Japan after Trump uses Pearl Harbor to defend Iran war

Senior U.S. and Japanese officials tend to shy away from anything but very careful public comments about Japan’s 1941 sneak attack on U.S. forces at Pearl Harbor.

In Japan, Trump’s Pearl Harbor joke elicits scorn and dismay. – PR informa

President Donald Trump speaks as he meets with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Some people criticized Trump’s decision to invoke a painful chapter of history. Others worried it might harm U.S.-Japan relations. (Doug Mills/The New York Times) By JAVIER C. HERNÁNDEZ and HISAKO UENO President Donald Trump’s meeting with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the Whit…