Hours before South Korean president Lee Jae Mung was due to meet US president Donald Trump, a Truth Social post dropped, questioning the situation in South Korea and suggesting a possible Purge or Revolution. This sparked concerns regarding the meeting's tone. Trump had also made remarks about alleged misconduct in South Korea, including supposed raids on churches.
Yet, seasoned politician Lee skillfully turned on the charm, averting the fears of a contentious encounter similar to those faced by leaders like Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky. Observing the new Oval Office decor, Lee extolled the relationship Trump has built with North Korea's Kim Jong Un, even humorously suggesting the construction of a Trump Tower in North Korea one day.
Lee's Democratic Party supporters believe in achieving unification with the North through dialogue and peace. Trump, reciprocating this sentiment, mentioned how closely the U.S. and South Korea need each other for mutual benefit.
As discussions turned to trade, Trump affirmed the necessity for collaboration, saying, We love what they do, we love their product, we love their ships, we love a lot of the things they make. Lee's ability to flatter Trump seemed to secure a smoother meeting, in contrast to tensions felt before their encounter.
By the end, Trump's retraction of some of his harsher claims about South Korea signaled a possible path forward, with both leaders expressing hope for future negotiations with North Korea.
