President Donald Trump claimed he did not tell Japan and other U.S. allies about the joint operation to launch strikes against Iran because he wanted the element of surprise akin to the attack on Pearl Harbor.
“We didn’t tell anybody about it because we wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan?” Trump joked on Thursday during a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
“Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor, OK?” Trump continued as people in the Oval Office burst into laughter. “You believe in surprise, I think much more so than us.”
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Trump was referring to Japan’s Dec. 7, 1941, surprise military attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor on Oahu, Hawaii.
The attack killed more than 2,400 Americans and subsequently led the U.S. to enter World War II, after having kept a neutral stance.
Nearly 85 years later, the U.S., in conjunction with Israel, led a surprise attack against Iran on Feb. 28. The nearly three-week-old war has led to higher oil and gas prices as Iran has attacked ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation.
“And because of that surprise, we knocked out the first two days. We probably knocked out 50% of what we and much more than we anticipated,” Trump said. “So if I go and tell everybody about it, there’s no longer a surprise.”
Trump also told reporters that he was not considering sending troops into Iran, as U.S. allies have been reluctant to aid the U.S. in defending the Strait of Hormuz.
“No, I’m not putting troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you, but I’m not putting troops,” Trump said.
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Takaichi’s visit comes as Japan joined the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands in issuing a joint statement condemning Iran’s attacks on the Strait of Hormuz.
“We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait. We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning,” the statement says.