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Trump, Takaichi G7 spat: Real or fake? Academic says calling it fake news is overconfident

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Context piece
  • A Canadian academic suggests that reports of a heated argument between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Japan's then-Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the G7 summit may be exaggerated rather than outright false.
  • The academic, Shen Rong-chin, argues that dismissing the reports as fake news without thorough investigation is overconfident, citing a credible French media source.
  • He posits that while a conflict likely occurred due to a past incident involving Pearl Harbor, the intensity of the dispute was probably amplified through gossip and retelling.

Reports of a fiery exchange between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Japan's then-Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the G7 summit have circulated, but a Canadian academic urges caution against immediately labeling them as fake news.

Many people directly commented 'fake news' or 'rumor' without thinking about the conflict between Trump and Sanae Takaichi at the G7. This is overconfidence.

— Shen Rong-chinExplaining his skepticism towards immediate dismissal of the reports.

Shen Rong-chin, an associate professor at York University, believes that while the conflict might have been exaggerated in retelling, it's likely that Trump did indeed bring up a past incident, possibly related to Pearl Harbor, which caused Takaichi displeasure. Shen points to a report from Dominique Seux, a former deputy editor-in-chief and current columnist for French financial newspaper Les Echos, published by Radio France, as a credible source. He argues that dismissing such a report from a seasoned journalist in a country like France, which values cultural and social capital, is premature.

If you look at his academic and professional experience, plus the characteristics of French society, you know that when he says this on Radio France, there must be a basis for it.

— Shen Rong-chinDefending the credibility of the French journalist who reported the incident.

Shen acknowledges that the lack of widespread reporting by major international outlets and Takaichi's potential English language limitations might make the story seem suspicious. However, he notes Trump's past controversial remarks, including about Pearl Harbor, and his son's subsequent boasting on social media. Given this history, Shen finds it plausible that Trump would repeat such a remark and that Takaichi might respond, especially after a previous negative experience. He suggests that the core of the incident is likely true, but the "argument" has been amplified through gossip and subsequent retellings.

It is unlikely that Dominique Seux, former deputy editor-in-chief and current columnist for Les Echos, deliberately fabricated or spread fake news on Radio France.

— Shen Rong-chinAssessing the likelihood of the French journalist intentionally spreading misinformation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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