Trump startles Japanese PM with surprising Pearl Harbor remark (VIDEO)

(SeaPRwire) –   The US president cited the WWII attack to defend his decision not to inform allies about the strikes against Iran

US President Donald Trump made a joke about Japan’s 1941 Pearl Harbor attack in front of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi—who looked clearly uncomfortable—as he justified not warning allies before striking Iran.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump was asked why Washington’s partners weren’t given advance notice before the US and Israel launched large-scale strikes on Iran last month—a move that roiled energy markets and sparked a major Middle East escalation.

”We didn’t tell anybody about it because we wanted surprise,” the president explained, then turned to Takaichi and said: “Who knows more about surprise than Japan? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor?”

Takaichi stayed composed and did not reply but appeared taken aback by the comment.

Trump was referring to Japan’s 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, which killed over 2,400 Americans and drew the US into World War II. While Japan saw early success in the Pacific, the war ended with the US dropping nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan’s unconditional surrender, and an American occupation that lasted until 1952.

Trump went on to call Takaichi “a spectacular woman,” adding that they discussed Japan’s support for the US in the Iran war. “They are really stepping up to the plate,” he said, without providing details.

A Thursday report from The Wall Street Journal noted that America’s “longstanding allies weren’t informed of the battle plans until hours before the first attack,” and that this was particularly “infuriating” for Gulf countries, which faced retaliatory strikes from Iran.

Trump’s remarks come as tensions widen between the US and European NATO members over the Iran conflict. He warned his European NATO counterparts that the bloc could face a “very bad future” unless they help unblock the Strait of Hormuz.

European leaders pushed back. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said, “this is not our war.” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas noted there is “no appetite” among member states to get actively involved in the conflict.

Trump responded that NATO is “making a very foolish mistake,” adding that the Iran war had become a “great test” of whether the bloc “would ever be there for us.”