President Donald Trump invoked the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the White House on Thursday, prompting a visible reaction from the visiting leader and raising questions about diplomatic sensitivities.
The remark came during a press conference following bilateral discussions, when a Japanese journalist questioned President Trump about why the U.S. Did not provide advance warning to its allies, including Japan, before launching strikes against Iran on February 28th. Trump responded, “We went in very hard and we didn’t tell anybody about it because we wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? OK, why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor?” He added, “You believe in surprise, I think, much more than us.”
Prime Minister Takaichi’s reaction was immediately noticeable, according to Mineko Tokito, a senior reporter from the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun, who was present in the Oval Office. Tokito described Takaichi as “viscerally” reacting, with her eyes widening and a smile disappearing as she leaned back and drew her hands in, appearing “clearly taken aback” by the unexpected reference to Pearl Harbor.
The comment drew some laughter from journalists and administration officials present, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Though, the historical weight of the event – which led to the United States’ entry into World War II and ultimately the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki – appeared to resonate differently with the Japanese delegation.
Yuta Nakamura, a 33-year-traditional engineer, told Reuters that Takaichi had been placed in “a very difficult situation” and commended her for “avoiding upsetting Trump.” Tokio Washino, a retiree, expressed unease, stating, “Given the historical context of Japan having done that, and with Donald Trump bringing it up as an example, it makes me feel a bit uneasy as a Japanese citizen.”
Despite the fraught history, the U.S. And Japan have maintained a strong alliance in the decades following World War II. The two countries have collaborated on security matters, including efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz, with Trump praising Japan for “stepping up” in that regard, contrasting their efforts with those of NATO allies.
Following the meeting, the White House did not issue a statement addressing the President’s remark directly. Prime Minister Takaichi is scheduled to continue meetings with U.S. Officials on Friday, focusing on economic and security cooperation, but no further joint press appearances are currently planned.
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