Even President Donald Trump’s harshest critics were amused by his attempt at humor involving the second-largest attack on American soil.
Trump made the quip aboard Air Force One on Sunday after a reporter asked why the United States intervened to support the Japanese yen.
“Because we have a good relationship with Japan. We’re very strong, very strong, financially. And they have a weakening yen and they wanted a little bit of help, and we’re always there for Japan. Japan’s been very good for us, with the exception, of course, of Pearl Harbor.”
Trump was referring to Japan’s surprise attack on Hawaii in 1941 that spurred America to join the allies in World War II — the deadliest assault on U.S. soil until the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
Reaction online to the president’s joke ranged from shock to amusement to eyerolls to even praise from his critics.
“He’s so incompetent but every once and awhile he is just so f—— funny,” posted @TRISHALBARTA on X.
“His comedic genius is the most devastating part about him,” added @blockhim2026.
“Sweet Jesus this is good content,” replied the satirical X account Three Year Letterman.
“Sometimes I have to pinch myself and realize this mentally melted down man is our president,” added @15TeaLover. “We are completely through the looking glass.”
“Please quit your day job and go into comedy,” posted @nerfherder287. “You’ll still bomb there, but at least innocents won’t die.”
Trump’s remarks on Sunday weren’t the first time he made the off-color joke about Pearl Harbor.
In March, made the shocking joke after a Japanese reporter asked him why the United States did not give Japan and other American allies a heads-up on the strikes on Iran.
“One thing — you don’t want to signal too much, you know?” Trump said during the exchange as Japanese Prime Minister sat next to him.
“When we go in, we went in very hard, and we didn’t tell anyone about it because we wanted surprise.
That’s when Trump made a reference to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
“Who knows better about surprise than Japan, OK? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor, OK?” the president told the reporter.
“I think you believe in surprise much more than us.”
Howard Koplowitz; al.com; (TNS) || ©2026 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit al.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
