Trump Seals Japan Trade Deal After Shrimp Catching Feat

The president's impressive shrimp catching skills helped secure a new trade agreement.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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In a surprising turn of events, President Donald Trump was able to secure a new trade deal with Japan after impressing the Japanese delegation with his ability to catch an unprecedented five shrimp in a row during a lunch at a Benihana restaurant.

Why it matters

The successful trade negotiations represent a diplomatic victory for the Trump administration, showcasing the president's unorthodox negotiation tactics and ability to leverage even the most mundane situations to his advantage.

The details

During the lunch meeting, Trump and the Japanese representatives visited a nearby Benihana restaurant. There, the president wowed the visitors by catching five shrimp in a row tossed by the teppanyaki chef, a feat the Japanese delegates claimed they had never seen before. Impressed by Trump's shrimp catching skills, the Japanese team was then able to finalize the details of the new trade agreement between the two nations.

  • The trade negotiations and shrimp catching incident took place on February 17, 2026 during a lunch meeting in Bethesda, Maryland.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who used his impressive shrimp catching abilities to help secure a new trade deal with Japan.

Japanese Government Representatives

A delegation of Japanese officials who were impressed by Trump's shrimp catching skills and went on to finalize the new trade agreement with the United States.

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What they’re saying

“Hawwwwwwww!”

— Japanese Government Representatives

“They had never seen anything like it. They said they had only seen someone catch two, maybe three, shrimp in a row at the most. I did five. I could have done more, believe me. I love the shrimp. And the onion volcano. It's tremendous. The Japanese are great with the food tricks. And electronics. We're going to have a beautiful trade deal now, because of the shrimp. Apparently, it was a record. That's what they told me. At least I think that's what they said. It was in Japanese.”

— Donald Trump, President (Babylonbee.com)

What’s next

At publishing time, Trump had reportedly amended the trade agreement to include a clause that would provide him with a squad of White House ninjas.

The takeaway

This unusual negotiation tactic highlights the president's unconventional approach to diplomacy, where even the most mundane activities can be leveraged to achieve significant political and economic victories.