During a bilateral meeting on March 19, 2026, US President Donald Trump made an awkward joke referencing the attack on Pearl Harbor while responding to a Japanese journalist's question about informing allies before the joint US-Israel air campaign against Iran.
Key points
- Trump asked Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, "Why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor, okay?"
- The comment was made after Trump justified the lack of prior notification to allies by saying the operation against Iran needed to be a surprise.
- Takaichi reportedly reacted by widening her eyes and shifting in her seat but remained silent.
- The meeting's main goal was to reinforce bilateral cooperation on Indo-Pacific security, trade, and international stability.
- The attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 resulted in over 2,400 US military deaths.
Why it matters
The incident overshadowed the bilateral meeting between the US and Japan, drawing attention to Trump's use of a traumatic historical event for a joke in front of the Japanese Prime Minister.
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