Trump jokes about Pearl Harbor during press conference with Japanese PM
US President Donald Trump joked about the attack on Pearl Harbor when asked about the lack of warning to allies before the operation against Iran.
Trump was asked why allies, including Japan, were not informed in advance of the US plans.
"Well, one thing you don't want to signal too much. You know, when we go in, we went in very hard and we didn't tell anybody about it because we wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Okay. Why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor?" Trump said.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said earlier that Japan has no plans to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz after the US asked for help.
"We have not yet made any decisions on sending naval vessels. We are currently studying what Japan can do on its own within our legal framework," she said.
Trump has also called on several nations, including China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom, to join joint efforts in the Strait of Hormuz to ensure safe navigation. on March 16, he warned that NATO's future would be "very bad" if allies did not help the United States guarantee security in the area.
What is known about the attack on Pearl Harbor?
On December 7, 1941, Japan suddenly attacked the US naval base in Hawaii. The attack was carried out by aircraft from aircraft carriers and submarines. This was the beginning of the war between the United States and Japan in the Pacific.
Japan sought to weaken the United States in order to expand unhindered in Southeast Asia
Key reasons:
- he United States has limited oil and resource supplies (economic pressure);
- the conflict of interest over China and Indochina;
- Japan's desire to neutralize the US Pacific Fleet before large-scale expansion.
The attack killed 2,403 people and injured 1,178 others. After that, the United States declared war on Japan on December 8, 1941. Soon, Germany and Italy joined the war against the United States.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on March 16, it became known that the US allies massively rejected President Trump's request for military support to open the Strait of Hormuz.
The day before, Trump hinted that he might postpone his planned visit to China to help Beijing ensure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.