US President Donald Trump has faced intense backlash after he seemed to have forgotten the name of the Prime Minister of Japan and addressed him as "Mr Japan" during a live interview amidst impending trade tensions. Speaking to Fox News host Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures, Trump reiterated that he plans to send letters to world leaders demanding tougher trade terms as the 90-day freeze on his reciprocal tariffs expires on July 8. “I’m going to send letters, that’s the end of the trade deal. I can send one to Japan. Dear Mr. Japan, here’s the story: you’re going to pay a 25 per cent tariff on your cars,” Trump said. Trump’s controversial remark goes viral as he moves ahead with plans to dispatch tariff letters today to multiple countries that have not yet finalised new trade deals with the United States. The letters will formally notify foreign governments of the reinstatement of high reciprocal tariffs that were paused for 90 days.

The US President also threatened that countries joining BRICS the bloc comprising of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, may be charged an extra 10 per cent tariff. The threat comes after BRICS leaders jointly criticised the US tariff policy as “illegal and arbitrary”, blaming it for disrupting global trade. “AAny Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10 per cent Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump said.

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The tariff pause, which Trump branded as a ‘liberation day’ for American trade, was intended to give the US time to negotiate separate trade deals with dozens of nations. Trump had claimed his administration would finalise 90 trade deals in 90 days, but so far, only two framework agreements have been inked. The president vowed to sign 90 trade agreements within 90 days, but none other than two framework agreements have been agreed. Trump admitted the deficit, saying to Bartiromo, "There's 200 countries, you can't speak with all of them."

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'Dear Mr Japan': Social Media Bites Back At Trump's Blunder

The remark soon attracted online outrage. Former GOP Congresswoman Barbara Comstock posted, "Dear Mr Japan? Trump doesn't know what or who he is talking about." One of the users joked that if President Biden also made a similar mistake, "Republicans would never stop reminding everyone and the 25th Amendment is all they'd discuss. "His brain is peanut butter," commenter Leslie Jones, a third commentor wrote. Others pointed out the irony of Trump threatening Japan's automobile industry when numerous Japanese-brand vehicles destined for the US market are actually produced in America.