Trump's this "joke"—just asking if Gao Shiqing is embarrassed

Source: Xinhua News Agency

Beijing, March 20 — Title: Trump’s “Joke” — Is Gao’s Embarrassment Inevitable?

Xinhua News Agency reporters Liu Piran and Liu Zan

U.S. President Donald Trump’s remark about a “historical joke” made Japan’s visiting Prime Minister Sanae Yoshimura “toe the line.”

On March 19, Trump met with Yoshimura at the White House and asked Japan to support U.S. military actions against Iran.

In the crowded Oval Office, when a Japanese reporter asked why the U.S. did not notify Japan and other allies before “attacking Iran,” Trump replied, “We wanted to surprise them. Who knows surprise better than Japan? Why don’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor?”

Laughter erupted. Yoshimura appeared somewhat caught off guard by this “hellish joke.” She widened her eyes, shifted slightly in her chair, and tried to keep a smile on her face.

On March 19, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump met with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Yoshimura at the White House. Photo by AFP

Yoshimura’s inner feelings were probably complicated. Her trip was already under internal and external pressure, and her situation was very delicate. On one hand, she faced public resentment in Japan, as U.S. provocations in the Middle East caused oil prices to soar, reaching historic highs domestically; on the other hand, she had to weigh whether to participate in the “suicide mission” of escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz under U.S. pressure.

Whether intentional or not, the audience certainly paid attention. Trump suddenly brought up Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor over 80 years ago, putting Yoshimura under pressure. A former Japanese government official told Yomiuri Shimbun that Trump’s joke was “regrettable.”

This is a photo of the attack on Pearl Harbor after the bombing of U.S. warships on December 7, 1941. Photo by Xinhua News Agency

From Japan’s perspective, the history of Pearl Harbor instantly transformed Japan from a “victim or overlooked ally” into a “perpetrator who attacked the U.S.” The subtext is, “Don’t talk about ‘advance notice’—Japan has done worse in its history.”

Additionally, from the outside, Yoshimura is seen as a conservative figure in Japanese politics, known for her so-called “tough stance.” Trump publicly embarrassing her demonstrated that in the White House’s Oval Office, “I” am the one in control of the narrative.

Mireya Solis, director of the Center for East Asia Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution, said that Trump’s predecessors had always avoided discussing Pearl Harbor in front of Japanese leaders because “the U.S. and Japan had already undergone a very deep reconciliation,” and that this statement was “shocking.”

Some analysts believe that in bilateral talks with allies, Trump is skilled at establishing dominance through “humiliation” or “exposing weaknesses.” Bloomberg reported that Trump often used awkward moments with allied leaders during White House meetings to gain negotiation advantages and force concessions.

On social media, some Trump supporters said, “This is Trump’s sharpest comeback!” Others said, “Trump is just mocking and insulting Japan.”

Behind Trump’s teasing of Japan lies the cold logic of “America First”: the U.S. does not need to explain itself to allies; even if Middle East conflicts drag on and global oil prices soar, allies must accept America’s unilateral decisions amid historical baggage and current dependencies.

Japan’s long-standing “fox pretending to be a tiger,” using its alliance with the U.S. to seek strategic benefits, has led to a reluctance to “disobey” the U.S., making Yoshimura’s awkward moment in the White House even more pronounced.