Trump Cites Pearl Harbor Example When Skipping Advance Notice for Iran Strike

U.S. President Donald Trump held a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the White House on March 19. During the meeting, when asked about prior notification to allies regarding the Iran strike operation, President Trump mentioned the Pearl Harbor attack, stating 'surprise was important.' In response to a reporter's question about why advance notification was not given to allies such as Japan before the Iran strike, President Trump replied that it was because he wanted surprise. President Trump retorted to the reporter, asking where one would know better about surprise than Japan, and added, 'Why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor?'

Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth were in attendance at the meeting.

The United States launched 'Operation Epic Fury,' targeting the Iranian regime, on February 28, marking the 20th day of the operation as of March 19, the day of the meeting. President Trump characterized Iran as a grave threat to the world and the Middle East, comparing the operation to fighting a fire that must be extinguished.