Donald Trump’s Pearl Harbour joke: Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi meets US President in White House

US President Donald Trump has urged Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to “step up” regarding the US-Israeli war with Iran and defended the secrecy of the campaign by invoking Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbour.

While mentioning Pearl Harbour, Mr Trump decided to make a joke that some are calling the “funniest thing”, whilst others call it the worst diplomatic gaffe in modern US-Japan relations.

SCROLL DOWN TO WATCH THE JOKE

Mr Trump, who greeted Ms Takaichi with hugs at the White House, heaped praise on the leader of Washington’s closest ally in East Asia during an Oval Office meeting where the expected topics of discussion included tense relations with China and the billions of dollars Tokyo is committing to US investments favoured by Mr Trump.

But Mr Trump defended an Iran operation that took US allies by surprise and also used the meeting to renew pressure on American allies from Asia to Europe.

The Republican president has asked for more ships to clear mines and escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, largely closed by Iran in the conflict, despite saying the US doesn’t need any help.

“I expect Japan to step up because, you know, we have that kind of relationship and we step up for Japan,” Mr Trump said.

“We don’t need much. We don’t need anything. I mean, honestly, we don’t need anything from Japan or from anyone else. But I think it’s appropriate that people step up.”

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Ms Takaichi said she had briefed Mr Trump on what support Japan could and could not provide in the strait under its laws. She did not elaborate publicly.

Mr Trump’s pleas for help have received a lukewarm response from some allies caught off guard by his audacious campaign in Iran, now in its third week.

Donald Trump’s Pearl Harbour joke

Asked why he had not told allies about his war plans, the president cited Japan’s December 7, 1941, attack on the US naval base in Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, which drew Washington into World War II.

“We wanted surprise,” Mr Trump told a Japanese journalist. “Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbour?”

Ms Takaichi’s eyes widened, her grin vanished and she shifted in her chair next to Mr Trump after his comment.

Ms Takaichi said she came prepared to discuss specific strategies to calm global energy markets.

Ahead of the meeting on Thursday, US time, Japan joined leading nations in Europe in a joint statement, saying they would take steps to stabilise energy markets and were ready to join “appropriate efforts” to ensure safe passage through the strait.

But it was not clear that she was prepared to supply minesweeping vessels that could expose her pacifist nation to a bloody Middle East conflict.

“They are really stepping up to the plate,” Mr Trump said of Japan, “unlike NATO”.

Ms Takaichi called for de-escalation of the conflict, condemned Iran’s attacks in the strait, said Iran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon and added she believed only Mr Trump could achieve peace.

She also said the global economy was about to take a hit due to the turmoil in the Middle East.

Ms Takaichi’s long-scheduled White House visit has been aimed at burnishing the decades-old security and economic partnership between Washington and its closest East Asian ally, but there have been concerns among Japanese officials that Mr Trump would press her to do more than she can on Iran.

Ms Takaichi told the Japanese parliament on Monday that Japan had received no official request from the US on Iran but was checking the scope of possible action within the limits of its constitution.

Japan and the US were also set to strike deals related to energy, critical minerals and defence. Speaking to reporters, Ms Takaichi said the two sides agreed to joint development and production of missiles.