Trump confuses leaders at NATO summit misnames Iran as Japan

President Donald Trump twice confused the names of world leaders during a press conference at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, while seated beside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In a widely circulated moment, Trump gestured toward Zelensky and asked reporters if they had a question for "President Putin." When the remark prompted laughter, he repeated the request, stating he would take the question to the Russian leader.

Earlier in the same appearance, Trump misidentified Iran as the "Islamic Republic of Japan" while recounting a missile attack on a U.S. aircraft carrier. He stated that 111 missiles were shot by Japan at the carrier and were successfully intercepted by Patriot and other defense systems. Japan was not involved in the incident, which involved Iran.

The verbal slips occurred during a summit where NATO leaders pledged substantial new military assistance to Ukraine and reaffirmed their collective defense commitments. During his meeting with Zelensky, Trump announced a significant policy shift, stating the United States would grant Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot missile interceptors domestically. He described it as a...