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Donald Trump hosted Japan's PM at the White House.
16:39, Thu, Mar 19, 2026 Updated: 17:10, Thu, Mar 19, 2026
Trump with Japan's PM (Image: Getty)
Donald Trump has sparked outrage after making a joke about Pearl Harbour joke to Japan's Prime Minister.
President Trump hosted Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the White House where he also spoke to journalists. A Japanese reporter asked: "Why didn't you warn your allies in Europe and Asia, like Japan, about the waw before the attack on Iran? We are very confused, we Japanese citiziens."
Trump replied: "It's one thing you don't want to signal too much. We didnt' tell anyone about it. We wanted to surprise them. And who knows surprises better than Japan? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor?"
The President also said he believed Japan was "really stepping up to the plate" on Iran, unlike the NATO alliance, Reuters reported.
Trump appeared to make a joke about Pearl Harbour in a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister. (Image: Getty)
The Japanese Prime Minister's visit comes after Mr Trump asked through social media Truth other countries to step in and help the U.S. in securing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil route, and also mentioned how important is fuel from the Middle East for Japan's economy.
Reuters also quoted Trump as saying: "We've had tremendous support and relationship with Japan on everything, and I believe that based on statements that were given to us yesterday, the day before yesterday, having to do with Japan, they are really stepping up to the plate ... unlike NATO."
Takaichi said she had "brought specific proposals to calm down the global energy market" and said Iran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.
She also condemned Iran's attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and said she believed only Trump could achieve peace. She also said the global economy was about to take a hit due to the turmoil in the Middle East, the agency also added.
Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has spoken to French President Emmanuel Macron and Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte about securing the Strait of Hormuz, which has effectively been closed amid the Middle East conflict.
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The Prime Minister has also condemned Iranian attacks on vessels and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz in a joint statement with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan. In a joint statement, they said: "We condemn in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, attacks on civilian infrastructure including oil and gas installations, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces."
This followed previous comments from Trump saying he was “not happy” with the UK’s response to the Iran conflict. The US President lashed out after Starmer insisted Britain “won’t be drawn into the wider war” as he came under pressure to send Royal Navy ships to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
English (US) · 