Shinzo Abe tumbles into bunker while golfing with Donald Trump
US President doesn't appear to notice his Japanese counterpart's fall
Numerous things have gone tumbling during Trump's whistlestop tour of East Asia, from China's trade deficit with the US, to the fish food that Trump was supposed to feed “gently” to a pond of precious koi carp.
However, one nose-dive that went unnoticed, by the US President at least, came courtesy of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who fell head over heels into a sand bunker while golfing yesterday.
Having just successfully played a shot out of the bunker, Abe climbed to the edge of the sand trap, only for his foot to slip, sending him rolling backwards into the sand.
Subscribe to 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.
Trump, about 20m away at the time, didn't appear to notice his counterpart's dramatic tumble, but aerial footage later revealed Abe's gaffe.
The Japanese Prime Minister was reportedly unharmed in the incident, but News.com.au reports that many in Japan have mocked Abe's fall as symbolic of the power dynamic between the two leaders.
“Abe was ignored when he fell over backwards. He served Trump a lot of delicious food but in return all he got was being forced to promise to buy more weapons,” one user wrote on Twitter.
“Furthermore, Mr Trump ignored all of Mr Abe’s tweets. Mr Trump doesn’t even follow Abe on Twitter. And you call this best friend LOL?”
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
July 13 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include new TSA rules, FEMA cuts, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy complimenting Donald Trump's new wardrobe
-
5 weather-beaten cartoons about the Texas floods
Cartoons Artists take on funding cuts, politicizing tragedy, and more
-
What has the Dalai Lama achieved?
The Explainer Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader has just turned 90, and he has been clarifying his reincarnation plans
-
Trump U-turns on weapons to Ukraine
Speed Read Unhappy with Putin, Trump decides the US will go back to arming Ukraine against Russia's attacks
-
IAEA: Iran could enrich uranium 'within months'
Speed Read The chief United Nations nuclear inspector, Rafael Grossi, says Iran could be enriching uranium again soon
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
Iran nukes program set back months, early intel suggests
Speed Read A Pentagon assessment says US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites only set the program back by months, not years. This contradicts President Donald Trump's claim.
-
Trump gives himself 2 weeks for Iran decision
Speed Read Trump said he believes negotiations will occur in the near future
-
What would a US strike on Iran mean for the Middle East?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION A precise attack could break Iran's nuclear programme – or pull the US and its allies into a drawn-out war even more damaging than Iraq or Afghanistan
-
US says Trump vetoed Israeli strike on Khamenei
Speed Read This comes as Israel and Iran pushed their conflict into its fourth day
-
After Israel's brazen Iran attack, what's next for the region and the world?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Following decades of saber-rattling, Israel's aerial assault on Iranian military targets has pushed the Middle East to the brink of all-out war