President Donald Trump drew criticism in Japan after invoking Pearl Harbor to defend his decision not to inform allies before launching military action against Iran. The comments were made during a White House meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Friday.

When asked by a Japanese reporter why he hadn't consulted allies in Europe and Asia before the Iran operation, Trump responded: "Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor, OK?" The exchange occurred with Takaichi sitting beside the president.

The remarks prompted embarrassment and unease in Japan, where discussions about World War II history remain politically sensitive nearly 80 years after the conflict ended. The liberal-leaning Asahi newspaper criticized the comments in an editorial Saturday, calling them "nonsense that ignores lessons from history."

Social media reaction in Japan ranged from accusations of ignorance and rudeness to claims that Trump did not view Japan as an equal partner. Some called for Japan to formally protest the president's statements. Prime Minister Takaichi did not respond to Trump's comments during the meeting, drawing both praise for maintaining diplomatic composure and criticism for not speaking up.

The incident highlighted the delicate balance in U.S.-Japan relations, where both nations rely heavily on each other for security and economic cooperation. Japan hosts 50,000 U.S. troops and depends on American nuclear protection, while the U.S. values Japan as its key regional ally.

Tsuneo Watanabe, a senior fellow at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, suggested the comment indicated Trump was "not bound by existing American common sense" and may have been intended to justify the Iran operation through historical comparison.