U.S. President Donald Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy alongside the NATO leaders summit at the Bestepe Presidential Compound, joined by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in Ankara, Turkey, July 8, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
President Donald Trump made a remarkable gaffe Wednesday when trying to name the Islamic Republic of Iran, melding the Middle East country’s name with that of another country far-divorced from the conflict.
Trump was meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Wednesday in Turkey for the NATO summit, and moments after insulting Zelenskyy directly to his face – an insult that was met with a cold stare – Trump recalled recent attacks he claimed were thwarted by the United States, attacks that presumably came from Iran.
“I told this story yesterday: we had 111 missiles shot by the Islamic Republic of Japan,” Trump said, an almost-certain attempt to reference the Islamic Republic of Iran. “They were shot at the aircraft carrier!”
Trump: "We had 11 missiles shot by the Islamic Republic of Japan" pic.twitter.com/FUOFLVZiKh
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 8, 2026
