Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described herself and US President Donald Trump as 'best buddies' on Thursday, hours after Trump made a controversial joke about the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Speaking through a translator at a White House dinner, Takaichi said, 'A stronger Japan and a stronger America, a more prosperous Japan and a more prosperous America. I am very confident that Donald and I are the best buddies to realize this shared goal.'
Earlier, during a joint appearance in the Oval Office, Trump was asked by a Japanese reporter why he had not warned allies including Japan about the US airstrike campaign against Iran, which began on February 28. Trump replied that he wanted the strikes to be a 'surprise,' adding, 'Who knows better about surprise than Japan?' – a reference to the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor that killed more than 2,400 American service members.
Social media users reacted strongly, with one describing 'audible groans in the room' and another saying Takaichi 'looks like a hostage scanning the room for an exit.' A Japanese social media user wrote, 'To put it mildly, I think our country is being mocked, looked down upon, and made a fool of.'
Despite the awkward moment, Takaichi praised Trump's ability to resolve global conflicts, stating, 'I firmly believe that it is only you, Donald, who can achieve peace across the world.' She also backed Trump's handling of the Strait of Hormuz crisis, which she described as a 'huge hit' to the global economy.
Takaichi, fresh from a dominant election victory in Japan, had vowed to 'do everything to maximize Japan's national interest' during her US visit. Japan, along with the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands, expressed readiness to contribute to ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran closed following US-Israeli bombing.
