Trump Falsely Claims ‘Islamic Republic of Japan’ Attacked US Carrier

President Donald Trump stated on July 8, 2026, that the “Islamic Republic of Japan” fired 111 missiles at the USS Abraham Lincoln “a few months ago.” Trump made these remarks while appearing alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. The president claimed the missiles were fired over the course of an hour and were all intercepted.

Did You Know? The United States and Japan have maintained a military alliance for nearly 75 years, formalized by a treaty signed in 1952. There are currently approximately 60,000 U.S. troops stationed in and around Japan under a mutual defense agreement.

Context of the USS Abraham Lincoln

The USS Abraham Lincoln has been active in the Arabian Sea throughout the ongoing conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, which is now in its fourth month. In February, the U.S. military reported shooting down a drone that approached the aircraft carrier “aggressively” while the ship was positioned roughly 500 miles from the southern coast of Iran.

Following that incident, Iranian officials claimed they had struck the USS Abraham Lincoln with a ballistic missile. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) publicly disputed this claim in a post on X, stating that the ship was not hit and that the missiles launched “didn’t even come close.” CENTCOM further noted that the carrier has continued to launch aircraft to support its campaign against Iranian regime threats.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What did President Trump say about Japan?
President Trump stated that the “Islamic Republic of Japan” fired 111 missiles at the USS Abraham Lincoln a few months ago, claiming all were intercepted.

Is Japan currently at war with the U.S.?
No. According to the U.S. Congress, the United States and Japan have been military allies for nearly 75 years, sharing a mutual defense agreement with 60,000 U.S. troops stationed around Japan.

Has the USS Abraham Lincoln been hit by missiles?
No. While Iran claimed to have struck the carrier with a ballistic missile, U.S. Central Command stated the ship was not hit and the missiles did not come close.

How do you think international allies will respond to this characterization of the U.S.-Japan military partnership?