TOKYO (AP) β Japanese officials and commentators expressed surprise and unease after former U.S. President Donald Trump invoked Japan's 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor to defend potential military action against Iran. The comments, made during a campaign rally, broke a longstanding diplomatic norm of avoiding public references to the surprise attack that drew the U.S. into World War II.
Trump stated at a rally that a U.S. president must have the authority to respond swiftly to threats, using the historical example. "Youβre not going to have to go to Congress, weβre going to do it, and weβre going to do it fast and weβre going to do it good," he said, according to verified transcripts and video of the event.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, when asked about the remarks, told reporters that Japan and the U.S. have "built a relationship of trust" as allies who have overcome the past. He declined to comment directly on Trump's statement but emphasized the strength of the current bilateral alliance. Analysts in Tokyo noted the comments caused diplomatic discomfort, as public references to Pearl Harbor are typically avoided by both nations' leaders to prevent reopening historical wounds.
The incident highlights the sensitivity surrounding historical memory in the U.S.-Japan alliance, which is now a cornerstone of security in East Asia. The reaction in Japan was one of concern, with media outlets and experts questioning the appropriateness of using the analogy in contemporary geopolitical discourse.
