US President Donald Trump appeared to make a verbal slip during remarks at the NATO Summit in Ankara, mistakenly referring to Iran as the “Islamic Republic of Japan” while discussing rising tensions in the Middle East.
Ankara, Türkiye – Web Desk: Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the summit following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump said the “Islamic Republic of Japan” had fired 111 missiles at the USS Abraham Lincoln, before continuing his remarks.
The video of the statement quickly went viral on social media, with users highlighting that the US president appeared to confuse Iran with Japan during his comments on the regional conflict.
Trump’s remarks came amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran. He reiterated his criticism of Iran, accusing it of carrying out drone attacks on ships and warning that the United States could launch additional military strikes.
“We carried out a strong attack on Iran last night, and it is possible we will strike even harder tonight,” Trump said.
The White House did not immediately comment on the apparent verbal error.
