Which U.S. president announced Japan’s surrender to Americans by radio on August 14, 1945?

Harry S. Truman announced Japan’s surrender to Americans by radio on August 14, 1945.

The broadcast aired at 7 p.m. Eastern War Time, after the Japanese government communicated its acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration through diplomatic channels. Truman told the public that Japan had accepted the Allied surrender terms and that a formal ceremony would take place on September 2.

The announcement produced enormous celebrations across the United States and other Allied countries. Newspapers published special editions, crowds filled city streets, and the war in the Pacific appeared to be over, although the formal signing had not yet occurred.

The date can cause confusion because Japan’s announcement was broadcast there on August 15, due to the international date line and time-zone differences. September 2 is also associated with V-J Day because that was when Japan signed the surrender document aboard USS Missouri.