‘Absolutely shouldn’t be said’: Japan is on edge after Trump’s atrocious WWII joke to their Prime Minister

President Trump’s casual remark about Pearl Harbor during a White House summit has created a wave of unease and embarrassment across Japan, complicating the crucial U.S.-Japan alliance. More so because he chose to use it as a joke to respond to a fair question while seated next to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Per AP News, when a Japanese reporter asked why he didn’t inform allies about the attack on Iran beforehand, Trump stated, “Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor, OK?” There was some scattered laughter from officials and journalists present, but Takaichi simply widened her eyes and looked toward the reporter, remaining silent with her arms crossed.

That silence highlights the delicate balance in U.S.-Japan relations. Senior officials from both countries typically avoid bringing up Japan’s 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor in public, understanding the historical sensitivities involved. For Japan, the U.S. alliance plays a vital security and economic role. Takaichi was in Washington specifically to deepen those ties, especially after Trump’s failed attempt to recruit allies to protect the Strait of Hormuz.

The Japanese haven’t really taken it well

One liberal-leaning newspaper, the Asahi, published an editorial saying Trump’s comments “should not be overlooked.” They called it “a piece of nonsense that ignores lessons from history” to justify a sneak attack and boast about its outcome. Social media users have also been vocal, with many accusing the U.S. president of ignorance and rudeness, and some even suggesting he doesn’t view Japan as an equal partner. 

Tsuneo Watanabe, a senior fellow at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, wrote that the comment shows Trump is “not bound by existing American common sense.” Watanabe felt the remark was intended to bring the Japanese reporter or Takaichi into complicity, justifying his own “sneak attack” on Iran without informing allied countries. 

Toru Tamagawa, a commentator, noted on a morning show that the comment displayed “an unpleasant side of Trump,” highlighting his apparent disregard for the Japanese prime minister’s presence. Izuru Makihara, a professor of Japanese politics, stressed that such a comment “absolutely shouldn’t be said,” warning against the possibility of future, equally offensive remarks.

While some praised Takaichi for not reacting, others criticized her for not speaking up. Hitoshi Tanaka, a former diplomat, expressed his embarrassment on X. “As national leaders, they are equals,” he wrote. “To make an equal relationship is not to flatter.” Apparently, Takaichi had gone out of her way to curry favor with Trump, complimenting his looks at dinner and telling him, “I firmly believe it is only you, Donald, who can achieve peace across the world.”

This whole situation really underscores how fresh the debate about Japan’s role in World War II remains, even 80 years after its end. Prime Minister Takaichi, a hard-line conservative, has herself argued that Japan has apologized enough for the war.Trump has already spent most of this year alienating allies, and it looks like he still doesn’t care about maintaining those relationships.