Donald Trump is back with another international gaffe — and this one’s gone viral for all the wrong reasons.
While threatening new tariffs against Japan, the former US President appeared to forget the name of the country’s leader… and just called him “Mr. Japan.”
🛻 Trump threatens 25% tariff on Japanese cars
Speaking to Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, Trump said he’d soon be sending out new tariff letters, and Japan was first on his hit list.
“Dear Mr. Japan: Here’s the story,” he said. “You’re going to pay a 25% tariff on your cars.”
Trump accused Japan of taking advantage of the US, claiming that American car manufacturers were being shut out of the Japanese market while millions of their vehicles rolled onto US roads.
“They won’t take our cars,” Trump said, suggesting they could instead buy American oil.
🤔 But most Japanese cars sold in the US are… made in the US
Here’s the kicker: most of those Japanese cars Trump’s complaining about are already built in America.
So his proposed tariff wouldn’t even apply to the majority of the vehicles he claims are the problem.
Still, Trump framed it as part of his “America First” manufacturing plan.
“Come make your product in America,” he said back in January, “and we will give you among the lowest taxes of any nation on Earth.”
😂 ‘Dear Mr. Japan’ instantly mocked online
The bit that really stuck with people wasn’t the economics — it was the name.
“Dear Mr. Japan” trended on X (formerly Twitter) almost immediately, with critics mocking the fact Trump appeared to forget Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s name — despite meeting him just a few months ago.
The post quickly attracted memes, jokes, and plenty of disbelief.
One user wrote:
“Imagine being the leader of a country and Trump just calls you Mr. [Insert Country Name]. We’re in sitcom territory now.”
Another added:
“I cannot believe we might be going through four more years of this nonsense.”
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