People can't believe Donald Trump's letter to Prime Minister wasn't written 'by a fifth grader'

Donald Trump's letter to the Prime Minister of Japan has been compared to the sort of thing a schoolchild would write.

The US president recently wrote to Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba telling him that the US was going ahead with 25 percent tariffs on Japanese goods, along with a threat to raise them should Japan decide to reciprocate.

We all remember how that one turned out last time, don't we, and Trump has sent several other letters to countries around the world telling them tariffs would be imposed.

Anyhow, the letter itself has been criticised by some as looking like it was written by 'a fifth grader'.

For those of you who aren't sure exactly where fifth grade falls in the UK, it's about comparable to Year Six, which means we're talking primary school levels of literacy here.

Just look at it, it's the sort of thing that would give a sub-editor in any newsroom across the country an aneurysm.

Clearly it comes from someone with a love for throwing out capital letters like they're going out of style, as he tells the Japanese PM that the US has the 'Number One Market in the World' as though it was a movie title.

Trump seems to think that terms such as 'Trade Deficit' and 'Tariff' need capital letters, and at one point to hammer home his message he just writes 'TRADE' in all capitals like he's trying to shout from the paper.

People who've read the letter have been disappointed but not surprised that it reads like it was written by someone trying to rattle through a task so they can hurry up and get to circle time.

One person said that they saw 'so many grammatical errors in this letter, it would not pass a first-year English class', while another who said the letter was 'painful to read' and really wanted to know 'what the f**k is up with all the unnecessary capitalizations'.

"Words fail him," was a third person's response to the letter that would be covered in highlighter and a message saying 'see me after class' if you handed it to a teacher.

Someone else suggested that we should not 'disrespect fifth graders like this' by comparing their literacy skills to that of Donald Trump, while others were concerned with the content of the letter as it signalled that tariffs were back on the menu and lamented that the US president 'doesn’t understand how trade deficits work'.

Meanwhile, one person simply said 'Christ'.

This isn't the first time Donald Trump's communication skills have been compared to a fifth grader.

An analysis of his speeches during the 2024 election found that he was largely talking between a fifth and sixth grade level, according to indy100.

However, it was pointed out that this isn't always a bad thing as sixth grade level is the average American reading age. On the other hand, you'd hope letters to heads of governments read a little less like they were one of his Truth Social posts.

What Trump's letter read in full

His Excellency

Ishiba Shigeru

Prime Minister of Japan

Tokyo

Dear Mr. Prime Minister:

It is a Great Honor for me to send you this letter in that it demonstrates the strength and commitment of our Trading Relationship, and the fact that the United States of America has agreed to continue working with Japan, despite having a significant Trade Deficit with your great Country. Nevertheless, we have decided to move forward with you, but only with more balanced, and fair, TRADE. Therefore, we invite you to participate in the extraordinary Economy of the United States, the Number One Market in the World, by far. We have had years to discuss our Trading Relationship with Japan, and have concluded that we must move away from these longterm, and very persistent, Trade Deficits engendered by Japan’s Tariff, and Non Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers. Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal. Starting on August 1, 2025, we will charge Japan a Tariff of only 25% on any and all Japanese products sent into the United States, separate from all Sectoral Tariffs. Goods transshipped to evade a higher Tariff will be subject to that higher Tariff. Please understand that the 25% number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the Trade Deficit disparity we have with your Country. As you are aware, there will be no Tariff if Japan, or companies within your Country, decide to build or manufacture product within the United States and, in fact, we will do everything possible to get approvals quickly, professionally, and routinely — In other words, in a matter of weeks.

If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 25% that we charge. Please understand that these Tariffs are necessary to correct the many years of Japan’s Tariff, and Non Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers, causing these unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States. This Deficit is a major threat to our Economy and, indeed, our National Security!