Trump’s Letter to Japan Sparks “Fifth Grader” Comparisons
Critics slam the former president’s communication style as elementary.
A recent letter penned by former U.S. President Donald Trump to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has drawn criticism, with some comparing its style and grammar to that of a primary school student.
Tariffs and Trade Threats
**Trump** informed Ishiba that the U.S. would proceed with imposing 25% tariffs on Japanese goods. Additionally, he threatened to increase these tariffs if Japan decided to retaliate. Similar tariff threats were previously sent to other nations.
Literacy Level Under Scrutiny
The letter’s composition has been described as resembling something written by ‘a fifth grader’
. For individuals unfamiliar, fifth grade in the U.S. education system correlates to Year Six in the UK, signifying primary school literacy levels.
The frequent and seemingly random capitalization within the letter has been singled out for criticism. For instance, Trump emphasized that the U.S. has the Number One Market in the World
, treating the phrase almost as a title. Terms like Trade Deficit
and Tariff
also received the same treatment.
To underscore his point, at one juncture, he wrote TRADE
in all capital letters. According to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, 50% of U.S. adults struggle with literacy, and lack proficiency in comparing and contrasting information. (National Center for Education Statistics)
Reactions to Trump’s Letter
Readers expressed disappointment with the letter, with many stating that they weren’t surprised by its juvenile writing style. According to an individual, the multitude of grammatical errors would cause the letter to not pass a first-year English class.
Another found the letter painful to read
.
Some people questioned what the f**k is up with all the unnecessary capitalizations?
One observer quipped that words fail him
and the letter would be returned to Trump covered in highlighter and a message saying, see me after class.
Others defended fifth graders, arguing that comparing their literacy skills to Donald Trump‘s was disrespectful to the students. Concerns were raised about the letter’s content, particularly regarding the reintroduction of tariffs.
Meanwhile, one person simply said Christ
.
A Pattern of Elementary Communication
This is not an isolated incident, as **Trump**’s communication style has previously been likened to that of a fifth grader. A study of his speeches during the 2024 election cycle revealed that he generally spoke at a level appropriate for fifth or sixth graders.
While some acknowledge that this level aligns with the average American reading age, others suggest that correspondence with heads of state should exhibit a higher degree of sophistication than a typical social media post.
