Trump defends Iran strike secrecy with Pearl Harbour remark

Trump defends Iran strike secrecy with Pearl Harbour remark US President Donald Trump joked about Japan’s World War II attack on Pearl Harbour when asked why he had not informed allies such as Japan ahead of strikes on Iran, saying surprise was necessary for military operations. He made the remarks during a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office alongside Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi. “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,” Trump said, adding, “Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor? OK?” His comments referenced the 1941 attack that killed more than 2,400 Americans and drew the United States into World War II, as questions persist among allies over coordination following the strikes on Iran ordered nearly three weeks ago. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, alongside US President Donald Trump, at the White House on 19 March 2026 in Washington. Getty Images via AFP

US President Donald Trump joked about Japan’s World War II attack on Pearl Harbour when asked why he had not informed allies such as Japan ahead of strikes on Iran, saying surprise was necessary for military operations.

He made the remarks during a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office alongside Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi.

“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,” Trump said, adding, “Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor? OK?”

His comments referenced the 1941 attack that killed more than 2,400 Americans and drew the United States into World War II, as questions persist among allies over coordination following the strikes on Iran ordered nearly three weeks ago.