3-12-2025 (WASHINGTON) President Donald Trump accused Japan and South Korea of exploiting U.S. security guarantees during his last Cabinet meeting of the year on Tuesday, vowing to withhold their names while pointedly naming them to laughter from attendees.
The two-hour session in Washington featured rehashed election grievances and policy recaps, with Trump, 79, defending his mental acuity against recent media reports. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth justified a September 2 U.S. strike on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean, citing the “fog of war” amid bipartisan congressional probes into the operation’s aftermath, which left no visible survivors.
PRESIDENT TRUMP calls out the American allies that have been “ripping off” the United States for years:
“I won’t mention Japan. I will refuse to mention South Korea. I will not mention names.” pic.twitter.com/HaENnTW3es
— Fox News (@FoxNews) December 2, 2025
Trump also decried Somali immigrants, urging them to rebuild their nation without U.S. aid—a stance applauded by Cabinet members—and pushed back against affordability critiques, though officials highlighted domestic price-control efforts. These remarks underscore Trump’s long-standing push for allies to boost defense contributions, a theme from his first term that strained trans-Pacific ties and fueled tariff threats.
As global tensions rise over trade and security, the comments signal continuity in his “America First” approach, potentially complicating joint exercises and funding talks. Diplomats in Tokyo and Seoul will gauge responses as Trump’s team eyes 2026 negotiations on alliance costs.
