Sanae Takaichi was visiting the White House for talks with the US President when a reporter questioned him about not informing US allies, including Japan, about his plan to bomb Iran
United States President Donald J Trump speaks to the media as he meets Prime Minster Takeuchi Sanae of Japan in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, USA,(Image: Aaron Schwartz – Pool via CNP/Shutterstock)
Donald Trump was greeted with stunned silence after cracking a joke about Pearl Harbour in the presence of the Japanese Prime Minister.
Sanae Takaichi is visiting the White House today for discussions with the US President. And the meeting in the Oval Office was proceeding relatively smoothly until a Japanese journalist questioned him about why he hadn’t informed US allies, including Japan, of his intention to bomb Iran.
“One thing, you don’t want to signal too much,” Trump responded. “We went in very hard, and we didn’t tell anybody about it because we wanted surprise.
“Who knows better about surprise than Japan?” he quipped, to some uneasy laughter. But the laughter ceased abruptly when he pushed the joke further. “Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbour? OK? Right?” Trump said.
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Japan’s surprise assault on the United States Pacific Fleet at its naval base at Pearl Harbor on Oahu, Hawaii in December 1941 dragged the US into World War II.
Declaring war against Japan the next day, US president Franklin D. Roosevelt famously branded December 7, 1941, “a date which will live in infamy.”, reports the Mirror.
To a suddenly hushed room, Trump continued: “He’s asking me …no you believe in surprise much more than us.
“And we had to surprise them, and that’s what we did.”
During the meeting, Takaichi, Keir Starmer and the leaders of five other nations issued a joint statement strongly condemning Iranian attacks on shipping and oil and gas facilities, as well as the “de facto closure” of the strait.
The Prime Minister and the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan stated: “We express our deep concern about the escalating conflict.
“We call on Iran to cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the strait to commercial shipping, and to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2817.”
Resolution 2817, passed on 11 March, denounced Iran’s attacks on its neighbours and urged Tehran to halt hostilities. The leaders also voiced their “readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts” to reopen the strait and take “other steps to stabilise energy markets”.
Earlier, Trump revealed he had advised Netanyahu against initiating last night’s attack on the Iranian section of the world’s largest gas field.
When questioned if he’d spoken to the Israeli prime minister about the attack, Trump confirmed, “Yeah, I did, I did. I told him, ‘Don’t do that.'”
Trump continued, “And he won’t do that.” However, he added, “We’ve – we’re independent. We get along great. It’s coordinated. But, on occasion, he’ll do something. And if I don’t like it. And so we’re not doing that anymore.”
The Pentagon is indicating that it requires an additional $200 billion for the conflict with Iran, but the president stated on Thursday that his administration also needs it for other purposes.
“This is a very volatile world,” Trump said from the Oval Office. He said the emergency spending, which would require congressional approval, would be a “very small price to pay” to ensure the nation’s military remains in peak condition.
When questioned about the possibility of deploying US ground troops to Iran, Trump said, “No. I’m not putting troops anywhere.”
He then stated he could deploy military forces wherever he wishes, and wouldn’t inform reporters about his plans.
At the start of the meeting, Takaichi told Trump that Japan has opposed Iran’s development of its nuclear programme and appealed to his desire to be seen as a peacemaker, despite launching a war of choice with Iran, by telling him through an interpreter: “Even against that backdrop, I firmly believe that it is only you, Donald, who can achieve peace across the world.”
She said Japan condemns Iran’s actions during the conflict, including attacking neighbouring Gulf nations and effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz.
“Iran’s development of nuclear weapons must never be allowed,” she said, speaking through an interpreter. “That is why we, Japan, have been urging them and also reaching out to other partners in the world.”
Takaichi said she brought a specific proposal to the White House on Thursday to “calm down” the global energy markets. The focus of Taikaichi’s meeting has been altered due to the ongoing conflict in Iran. The White House meeting, followed by a dinner later this evening, was intended to provide Japan’s new prime minister with a golden opportunity to engage with Trump before setting off on a visit to China.
However, the war in Iran and Trump’s unsuccessful plea for Japan and other countries to assist in safeguarding the crucial Strait of Hormuz means that the trip to China has been postponed.
Trump has repeatedly voiced his frustration both on camera and online that US allies, including Japan, have declined his request to help protect this vital route for oil and gas transportation.
Before leaving Japan, the prime minister admitted that she anticipated her meeting with Trump “will be “very difficult.”
Yet on Thursday, the two leaders exchanged warm words in public. Prior to Takaichi praising Trump, he described her as a “popular powerful woman.”
He informed reporters that their meeting would involve discussions about Japan’s level of support for the US in the Iran conflict, stating, “They are really stepping up to the plate.” He did not provide further details.
AloJapan.com