While explaining (poorly) how tariffs work, Donald Trump called Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba Mr. Japan. People online mocked him for the error.Well send a letter and well say we would consider it a great honor, and this is what youll have to do to shop in the United States, Trump said in an interview with Foxs Maria Bartiromo, discussing tariffs. Were like a department store to shop in the United States, and youll pay a 25% tariff, or we wish you a lot of luck, and thats the end of the trade deal. Related Apple CEO Tim Cook quietly added his pronouns to his Twitter profile he/him Im gonna send letters. Thats the end of the trade deal. I could send one to Japan. Dear Mr. Japan, heres the story: youre going to pay a 25% tariff on your cars. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Its not clear from the exchange that he understands how tariffs work. Tariffs are taxes on imported goods. Companies that import goods produced in other countries into the U.S. have to pay the tariff, a cost that they pass along to consumers. On X, Trump was mocked both for calling Ishiba Mr. Japan and for his poor understanding of tariffs. Some people pointed out that Prime Minister Ishiba visited the White House in February and spoke with Trump. Dear Mr. Japan https://t.co/c3oAtkQMkf Ben Meiselas (@meiselasb) June 30, 2025 The same conversation in which he said, "I'm going to send letters, that's the end of the trade deal. I could send one to Japan. Dear Mr. Japan" His brain is peanut butter. Leslie Jones (@Spiker715) June 29, 2025Japan has no tariff barriers on American automobile importsthey import what they can sellsothis is BS.Maybe Americans could make vehicles that are competitive in the Japanese automotive market vs novelties? https://t.co/x8E1lMlPCr Tim Kolb (@timothyjkolb) June 29, 2025 So Trump says he's going to send a letter to the Japanese trade negotiators that starts, "Dear Mr. Japan." A fourth-grader would be embarrassed to say this. https://t.co/X46qU1DIoS C. Dale Brittain (@DaimbertYurt) June 29, 2025"Mr. Japan"?Paging Jake Tapper. https://t.co/MrgZLDRNlA D Villella (@dvillella) June 29, 2025 Joe stuttered. What is his excuse? https://t.co/XnkXixw5Ru Queen Thicktoria, Esq. says, Fork off, Leon! (@VeeCeeMurphy76) June 30, 2025Dear Mr Japan,Everythings Computer. Covfefe,Donald Trump https://t.co/y2xTU6V4pC josh diamond (@josh_diamond) June 30, 2025 Dear Mr Japan, here's the storyIf he wasn't the leader of the free world and, as such wasn't embarrassing our entire country, this shit would be hilarious https://t.co/Mgja1qSh2s MothGrrrrl (@Be_la74071) June 29, 2025Has there ever been a President as dumb as Trump? Laurence (Larry) Boorstein (@LarryBoorstein) June 29, 2025 We were supposed to have hundreds of deals in 90 days and not even one has been accomplished. Vince Wilson (@VinceWilsonShow) June 29, 2025Youre going to pay a 25% tariff on cars Liar. My citizens will pay a 25% tariff on cars is the truth. Cant believe people still believe Trump on tariffs. Manna (@OhMyManna) June 29, 2025 Dear Mr. Japan,Hi! Its Donnie! How are you? I sent you a stern letter but just ignore it. I love you. Do you love me?Donnie J. Trump, President of the United States. colleen (@waysandmeans71) June 29, 2025Why does he always speak like an infant Stop the Nonsense (@kasthomas) June 29, 2025 Fricking idiot Trump still doesnt know that the importer pays the tariff. Paola Poot (@PootDibou) June 29, 2025Hes going to send strongly worded letters. Chimes of Freedom (@throbbingvicar) June 29, 2025 Dear Mr Japan? Weirdo. Marybeth in Florida (@marybeth5025) June 29, 2025Can we just stop with the tariffs? All theyre going to do is distort the market and drive up consumer prices. Trump supporters and Republicans should be furious over this. C/K Nightlighter (@NTX_Zillennial) June 30, 2025He still doesn't know how tariffs work. Machine Pun Kelly (@KellyScaletta) June 29, 2025Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.