OOPs-Trump wishes Abe 'a very happy birthday' -- on day of Putin's birth The Japan Times

U.S. President Donald Trump wished Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, his golf buddy and close ally, a “very happy birthday” on Monday, at the start of a formal signing ceremony for his country’s recently reached trade deal with Japan.

But there was just one problem — Abe’s birthday is on Sept. 21.

Rather, Monday was the birthday of another leader often associated with Trump: Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I want to start by wishing my very good friend, Prime Minister Abe of Japan, a very happy birthday. He’s 39 years old today,” Trump said to laughter, mispronouncing, as he often does, the Japanese leader’s name as “abby.”

Abe turned 65 late last month, and it was clear that Trump’s reference to his age was a joke. But it was not clear why he had wished Abe a happy birthday on Monday of all days, though the mercurial U.S. leader is infamous for his often jarring syntax, verbal flubs and even blatant lies.


https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/10/08/national/trump-wishes-abe-happy-birthday-day-putins-birth/#.XZylE-dKg8Y