A viral post on X sparked speculation that Donald Trump experienced a memory lapse regarding the Japanese prime minister’s identity.
WASHINGTON, DC: Social media users have revived a rumor alleging that Donald Trump called the leader of Japan “Mr. Japan” during a 2025 interview, reigniting debate over whether he had forgotten the prime minister’s actual name.
The controversy stems from a June 2025 Fox News appearance where Trump discussed potential car tariffs. With the clip recently making the rounds online again, here is a closer look at the facts behind the statement.
Claim: Trump forgot the Japanese prime minister’s name
LMFAOOOOO ???
— kira 👾 (@kirawontmiss) October 20, 2026
Online discussions took off after an X user posted a mock Fox News graphic suggesting Trump used the placeholder “Mr. Japan” during a discussion about trade and tariffs because he couldn’t recall the premier’s name.
The post quickly gained traction, racking up over 104,000 views and generating a wave of humorous replies. One commenter quipped, “’Mr. Japan’ sounds like the final boss of geography.”
Another chimed in, “What makes this even more funny is that the Japanese prime minister is a woman 🤣,” while a third added, “’yeess yeess we love Mr. japan’ I can hear it already.”
The renewed chatter also highlighted how Japan’s political landscape has shifted since the interview originally aired.
Fact Check: The claim is misleading
While it is true that Trump used the moniker “Mr. Japan” during a June 2025 Fox News segment, labeling it definitive proof of a memory slip is misleading.
Neither Trump nor White House representatives have officially addressed whether the phrasing was intentional rhetoric or a genuine slip of the tongue.
The comment occurred during an appearance on Fox News’ ‘Sunday Morning Futures’ with host Maria Bartiromo on June 29, 2025.
At the time, Trump was detailing a strategy to issue tariff warning letters to various nations ahead of an impending deadline on duty rates.
Illustrating his hypothetical correspondence, Trump remarked, “I could send one to Japan. ‘Dear Mr. Japan, here’s the story. You’re going to pay a 25% tariff on your cars.’”
Critics and commentators immediately seized on the soundbite, interpreting it as a gaffe where the former president failed to remember the prime minister’s name.
Shigeru Ishiba was serving as Japan’s prime minister when the interview took place, and Trump had previously hosted him at the White House in February 2025.
Later in October 2025, Sanae Takaichi succeeded Ishiba to become Japan’s first female prime minister—a detail that fueled additional online jokes about Trump’s use of the title “Mr.”
Ultimately, while the audio and quote are authentic, framing the assumption that Trump forgot the prime minister’s name as an established fact goes beyond what the evidence shows. He undeniably used the phrase “Mr. Japan,” but the exact motivation behind the phrasing remains unverified.