President Donald Trump referenced Pearl Harbor during his first meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi since she became the first woman to hold the position in October.
Trump was defending his decision to, along with Israel, launch a war with Iran despite having not informed other allies, such as Japan, prior to carrying out attacks on February 28.
“Who knows better about surprise than Japan … Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor?” Trump said in front of reporters while sitting next to Takaichi in the Oval Office, referencing Japan’s surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet in 1941 resulting in the deaths of more than 2,400 personnel and the United States’ involvement in World War II.
Takaichi appeared to take a deep breath and lean back in her seat as she made an uneasy expression in response to the comment. Trump claimed that the surprise attack on Iran helped the U.S. as it “knocked out 50% of what we anticipated” within the first two days of the war.
The president credited Japan for “stepping up” to assist in efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz “unlike NATO” during his meeting with Takaichi. The Strait of Hormuz serves as a vital waterway for trade along the Persian Gulf and Iran has attempted to blockade in response to the war, which has resulted in a spike in the price of oil and U.S. gas prices.
Japan, along with Britain, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands had released a joint statement claiming they were ready to “contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait” prior to Trump’s meeting with Takaichi.
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