Paul Krugman: “When I travel to Asia, I’m fairly often met at the airport by someone holding a sign reading ‘Mr. Paul.’ Why? In much of Asia, names are given family first, personal second — at home, the prime minister of Japan is referred to as Abe Shinzo. And the mistake is completely forgivable when it’s made by a taxi driver picking up a professor.”

“It’s not so forgivable, however, if the president of the United States makes the same mistake when welcoming the leader of one of our most important economic and security partners. But there it was: Donald Trump referring to Mr. Abe as, yes, Prime Minister Shinzo.”

“Mr. Abe did not, as far as we know, respond by calling his host President Donald.”