Japan PM's wife 'pretended not to know English' with Trump
President said Akie Abe spoke 'zero' English - but video evidence casts doubt on claim

In an interview with New York Times journalist Maggie Haberman last week, President Donald Trump bemoaned the difficulties of sitting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's wife Akie at a dinner during the G20 summit.
"She's a terrific woman, but doesn't speak English," Trump said, adding: "Like, not 'hello'."
"That must make for awkward seating" Haberman said, to which the President replied that it was "hard" to sit alongside the apparently non-English speaking Abe for an hour and 45 minutes.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"But I enjoyed the evening with her, and she’s really a lovely woman, and I enjoyed… the whole thing was good," he said.
However, something about his version of events didn't quite ring true for the NY Times' Japan correspondent Motoko Rich, who called the detail a "false note".
Twitter sleuths got on the case and found some… interesting evidence to the contrary.
First, there was Abe's education. The daughter of a wealthy family, she was educated at Tokyo's prestigious Sacred Heart School, where all students learn English as part of the curriculum.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Then there was her stint as an executive at Dentsu, the world's largest advertising and marketing agency - a role you would imagine might be difficult with no English skills whatsoever.
Then there was the time she delivered a keynote speech on Japan's coastal defences at a 2014 conference on natural disaster risk reduction.
Several people pointed out that Madame Abe was clearly reading from prepared notes rather than making a spontaneous address, making it hard to tell exactly how fluent she is when it comes to conversational English.
She certainly is capable of saying "hello", however, as evidenced by this clip of the Abes meeting the Obamas during a 2015 state visit to the US. As she climbs out of their car, Madame Abe greets President Obama and then speaks to Michelle Obama, with no translator in sight.
But then there was this clip of Abe and Melania Trump visiting a Japanese garden in Florida earlier this year. Although Abe is accompanied by an interpreter at the start of the footage, later she shares a laugh with Melania and also appears to understand their English-speaking tour guide.
While it's possible that Japan's first lady was merely nodding along to be polite, Twitter was nonetheless highly amused by the possibility that Abe pretended not to understand English to avoid speaking to Trump.
So what's the truth? Trump's belief that Abe spoke "zero" English was more likely a misunderstanding than a deliberate snub, says the Toronto Star, the result of "a convergence of Abe's limited English abilities and a desire not to misspeak". The Star cites multiple diplomatic sources who state that Abe definitely speaks some English, but is almost always accompanied by a translator in English-speaking environments, suggesting she is either not fluent or simply not comfortable using English.
Others wondered if Trump himself was to blame for the lack of scintillating conversation at the dinner table:
-
August 31 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday’s political cartoons include FEMA's new scheme, Gavin Newsom's antics, and a clue in the Epstein files
-
Disarming Hezbollah: Lebanon's risky mission
Talking Point Iran-backed militia has brought 'nothing but war, division and misery', but rooting them out for good is a daunting and dangerous task
-
Woof! Britain's love affair with dogs
The Explainer The UK's canine population is booming. What does that mean for man's best friend?
-
Lisa Cook and Trump's battle for control the US Fed
Talking Point The president's attempts to fire one of the Federal Reserve's seven governor is represents 'a stunning escalation' of his attacks on the US central bank
-
Why is Trump suddenly interested in his enemies' mortgages?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the president continues targeting adversaries, he's turned to a surprising ally to provide ammunition for an emerging line of attack
-
'A symbol of the faceless corporate desire'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Truck drivers are questioning the Trump administration's English mandate
Talking Points Some have praised the rules, others are concerned they could lead to profiling
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer
-
Trump soaks up adoration in his made-for-TV Cabinet meetings
IN THE SPOTLIGHT The president's televised sessions have become a platform for his top lieutenants to demonstrate executive flattery
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judges
Speed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges
-
Can anyone save Jimmy Lai?
Today's Big Question 'Britain's shameful inaction' will mean it's partly 'responsible' if Hong Kong businessman dies in prison