{"id":2581806,"date":"2026-03-19T15:03:58","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T19:03:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-jokes-he-didnt-tell-japan-about-iran-strikes-because-of-pearl-harbor\/"},"modified":"2026-03-19T15:06:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T19:06:00","slug":"trump-jokes-he-didnt-tell-japan-about-iran-strikes-because-of-pearl-harbor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-jokes-he-didnt-tell-japan-about-iran-strikes-because-of-pearl-harbor\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump jokes he didn&#8217;t tell Japan about Iran strikes because of Pearl Harbor"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-jokes-he-didnt-tell-japan-about-iran-strikes-because-of-pearl-harbor%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2581806&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The piece reports that President Donald Trump joked about not informing Japan and other U.S. allies about a coordinated Iran strike in order to preserve surprise, suggesting that \u201cno one knows better about surprise than Japan\u201d during a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime minister Sanae Takaichi. He later said he was not considering sending troops to Iran and wouldn\u2019t reveal such plans if he were, framing the remark as a lighthearted misunderstanding. The article places these comments in the context of broader tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has attacked ships, and mentions japan\u2019s involvement alongside the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands in a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >joint statement supporting safe passage<\/a> through the strait. It also references ongoing discussions about Iran\u2019s actions and related policy considerations, including a highlighted discussion of the South Pars gas field.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Trump jokes he didn&rsquo;t tell Japan about Iran strikes because of Pearl Harbor<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> claimed he did not tell <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/japan\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"593\">Japan<\/a> and other U.S. allies about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-israel-eliminates-terror-tunnel-163-football-fields-long-kills-top-pij-terror-commander\/\" title=\"WATCH: Israel Eliminates Terror Tunnel 163 Football Fields Long, Kills Top PIJ Terror Commander\">joint operation<\/a> to launch strikes against <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"100\">Iran<\/a> because he wanted the element of surprise akin to the attack on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pearl-harbor\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2846\">Pearl Harbor<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t tell anybody about it because we wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan?&rdquo; Trump joked on Thursday during a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. <\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4497515\/trump-pledges-not-deploy-troops-iran\/\">Trump pledges not to deploy troops to Iran<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4496790\/trump-fixates-strait-hormuz-eyes-off-ramp-iran-war\/\">Trump fixates on Strait of Hormuz as he eyes off-ramp for Iran war<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4496992\/trump-south-pars-gas-field-iran-israel-qatar-lng\/\">Trump vows to destroy &#8216;entirety&#8217; of South Pars gas field if Iran strikes Qatari LNG again<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Why didn&rsquo;t you tell me about Pearl Harbor, OK?&rdquo; Trump continued as people in the Oval Office burst into laughter. &ldquo;You believe in surprise, I think much more so than us.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"tpd-featured-video featured-post-video in-content bridtv\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2537581\" class=\"brid\" style=\"width:1280;height:720;\"> <\/div>\n<div class=\"tpd-featured-video-placeholder\" style=\"position:relative;overflow:hidden;width:100%;padding-top:56.25%;background-color:#000;\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;width:100%;height:100%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4497051\/what-is-south-pars-gas-field-iran-trump\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4497051\/what-is-south-pars-gas-field-iran-trump\/\">WHAT IS THE SOUTH PARS GAS FIELD IN IRAN TRUMP THREATENED TO &lsquo;DESTROY&rsquo;?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Trump was referring to Japan&rsquo;s Dec. 7, 1941, surprise military attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor on Oahu, Hawaii.<\/p>\n<p>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. <\/p>\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/economists-bidens-policies-to-lift-oil-and-gas-prices-hurt-u-s-households\/\" title=\"Economists: Biden\u2019s policies to lift oil and gas prices, hurt U.S. households\">gas prices<\/a> as Iran has attacked ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;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,&rdquo; Trump said. &ldquo;So if I go and tell everybody about it, there&rsquo;s no longer a surprise.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>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. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;No, I&rsquo;m not putting troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn&rsquo;t tell you, but I&rsquo;m not putting troops,&rdquo; Trump said. <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4489176\/how-israeli-experiencing-war-against-iran\/\"><strong>FROM THE MAGAZINE: HOW ISRAELIS ARE EXPERIENCING THE LATEST WAR WITH IRAN<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Takaichi&rsquo;s visit comes as Japan joined the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands in issuing a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/joint-statement-from-the-leaders-of-the-united-kingdom-france-germany-italy-the-netherlands-and-japan-on-the-strait-of-hormuz-19-march-2026\">joint statement<\/a> condemning Iran&rsquo;s attacks on the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wh-kabul-airport-is-secure-evacuation-flights-have-resumed\/\" title=\"WH: Kabul Airport is secure, evacuation flights have resumed\">ensure safe passage<\/a> through the Strait. We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning,&rdquo; the statement says. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump hid Iran strike to surprise Japan<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2658,"featured_media":2581807,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26078587486266.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[3823,4461,53467,33930,3634],"class_list":["post-2581806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-iran","tag-japan","tag-pearl-harbor","tag-political-satire","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26078587486266.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2581806","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2658"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2581806"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2581806\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2581810,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2581806\/revisions\/2581810"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2581807"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2581806"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2581806"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2581806"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}