Donald Trump exited the room in disbelief after making a joke about Pearl Harbor during a meeting in the Oval Office, with Japan’s Prime Minister present.
The incident occurred as Trump greeted Japanese Prime Minister Sanar Takaichi at the White House, during a conversation that swiftly shifted to the recent bombing of Iran as part of Operation Epic Fury.
Trump was unreserved in his remarks. When questioned about why the US had not notified its allies prior to the strike, Trump initially responded plainly, stating that the country “went in very hard” and “didn’t tell anybody because [they] wanted surprise.”
However, he then deviated from his prepared remarks, as reported by VT.
“Who knows better about surprise than Japan?” he remarked.
This comment elicited awkward laughter, after which Trump reiterated his point, saying: “Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor, OK?”
“We probably knocked out 50 percent”
The response was instantaneous.
Audible groans resonated throughout the room before an uncomfortable silence enveloped everyone. Takaichi’s demeanor noticeably shifted, her reaction indicating that the comment had not been received as intended, as per VT.
Trump swiftly transitioned, reverting to his initial argument regarding the operation.
“He’s inquiring about surprise, and we indeed experienced it,” he stated.
“And due to that surprise, we incapacitated … we likely incapacitated 50 percent … and significantly more than we had expected to achieve.
“Therefore, if I disclose this to everyone, the element of surprise will be lost.”
However, the allusion referred to one of the most somber periods in US-Japan relations.
The 1941 assault on Pearl Harbor resulted in the deaths of over 2,400 US military personnel and left approximately 1,200 others wounded. Four American battleships were sunk, and it remained the most lethal attack on US territory until the events of 9/11 in 2001.