President Donald Trump, aged 80, appeared to be confused during a recent press conference when he mistakenly referred to attacks on the US Navy by the Islamic Republic of Japan. The incident occurred while he was in discussion with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, discussing recent hostilities in the Persian Gulf.
In his speech, Trump mentioned an attack on the US aircraft carrier, the Abraham Lincoln, currently deployed in the Middle East. He stated that 111 missiles were fired by the Islamic Republic of Japan at the aircraft carrier over a one-hour period. However, he noted that all the missiles were successfully intercepted, primarily by the Patriot defense system.
This mix-up by the president likely stems from a previous attack on the US carrier by Iran earlier this year, as tensions between Iran and the US have escalated since February due to US-Israeli actions in the region.
Furthermore, Trump’s confusion extended to mistaking Zelensky for Russian President Vladimir Putin during the press conference, leading to a humorous moment with reporters. This incident echoes a similar mix-up by Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, who confused Zelensky with Putin at a past NATO summit.
Following the press conference, Trump declared an end to the ceasefire between the US and Iran, not Japan, after the US retaliated against Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump’s strong words against Iranian leaders and threats of further military action caused fluctuations in global markets, with oil prices rising and stock markets experiencing declines.
The US military reported targeting over 60 small crafts belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in response to the Iranian attacks on ships in the strait. Trump’s statements at the NATO summit in Ankara contributed to the escalation of tensions with Iran and the subsequent market reactions.