Reactions to Trump’s letter to Japanese Prime Minister exposed.
Donald Trump’s latest diplomatic letter is going viral—just not for the reasons he hoped.
Trump’s speech patterns highlighted.
But this isn’t new for Trump—his speech patterns have often sparked debate over their elementary-school level readability.
In fact, a 2024 analysis found his campaign speeches hovered between a fifth and sixth grade reading level.
While some argue that’s relatable for average Americans, others say it’s a disaster when writing to world leaders.
Still, it’s not just the style that has people fired up—it’s the substance too.
Trump’s letter profiled.
The president sent a formal note to Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, outlining plans for fresh 25% tariffs on Japanese goods.
The letter makes clear that starting August 1, Japan will face a 25% tariff on all exports to the U.S.
Trump warns that if Japan retaliates with tariffs of its own, he’ll tack that amount on top of the existing 25%.
“A major threat to our Economy and, indeed, our National Security,” Trump declares, capitalizing randomly for full dramatic flair.
The statement reads like a Truth Social post dressed up for prom: formal on the outside, chaos underneath.
But this letter is only the latest in a long paper trail of Trump’s controversial communications with foreign powers.
Trump’s history of bold moves clarified.
Let’s rewind the tape—because Trump’s turbulent relationship with trade, tariffs, and international diplomacy didn’t start here.
Back in 2018, Trump launched a trade war with China, slapping tariffs on over $250 billion in imports and sparking a retaliatory storm.
He repeatedly criticized America’s trade partners for “taking advantage” of the U.S., especially longtime allies like Canada, Mexico, and the EU.
Trump often touted a zero-sum philosophy: if the U.S. was buying more than it was selling, something had to be “rigged.”
He called NAFTA “the worst deal ever” and withdrew the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership within days of taking office.
When Japan hesitated to bend to his demands, Trump pushed bilateral talks—often with hardball tactics like these “Dear PM” letters.
His trade advisers, particularly Peter Navarro, advocated aggressive tariffs, arguing they were a key tool to rebalance global trade.
Critics, meanwhile, say the tariffs mostly hurt U.S. consumers and strained long-standing alliances.
So when Trump’s latest letter landed in Tokyo, the reaction wasn’t just about poor punctuation—it was about policy déjà vu.
Reactions to Trump’s letter unveiled.
But instead of igniting international trade negotiations, the letter lit up social media with accusations that it reads like it was “written by a fifth grader.”
Critics didn’t hold back, blasting the grammar, syntax, and oddly-placed capital letters like they were auditioning for a red-pen reality show.
“TRADE” in all caps? “Number One Market in the World” like a blockbuster movie tagline? Even seasoned editors winced.
One online reader said, “This wouldn’t pass a first-year English class,” while another declared it “painful to read.”
“What the f**k is up with all the unnecessary capitalizations?” one exasperated critic asked.
And the punchline? Someone earnestly begged, “Please stop disrespecting fifth graders like this.”
“Words fail him,” one post read. Another imagined a teacher scribbling, “See me after class” in red ink across the letter.
“This reads like a kid trying to finish homework five minutes before recess,” one post joked.
Trump’s message is clear.
The message was loud, if not eloquent: comply, or face tariffs.
But many online couldn’t get past the style to even reach the substance.
And as the viral roast continues, one thing is clear: the letter may go down as one of the most unintentionally hilarious moments in international diplomacy.
Because in the end, it wasn’t the 25% tariff that shocked the internet—it was the fact that this might have been the best draft.