IRIA News

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U.S. President Donald Trump met South Korea’s recently elected leader, Lee Jae Myung, during his first official visit to Washington on August 25, 2025. Trump discussed the possiblity of meeting with Kim Jong Un as well as bilateral trade, defense, and political ties.

The encounter came hours after Trump had taken to social media to warn that a “Purge or Revolution” appeared to be taking place in South Korea, comments that raised fears of a hostile meeting.

Instead, the meeting turned into a largely cordial exchange. South Korea’s Lee praised the Oval Office decor, Trump’s efforts for peace on the Korean Peninsula, and even floated the idea of a Trump Tower in North Korea.

“We’ve known each other and gotten along very well,” Trump said. “It’s a great honor to be with you, and congratulations on your election. That was a big one, and we’re with you 100%.”

The warmth underscored a strategy that many world leaders have adopted when dealing with Trump: avoiding confrontation in favor of personal praise as they seek to secure favorable trade terms and military support.

The U.S. and South Korea announced a series of major agreements, including a $150 billion investment pledge from South Korean companies in sectors such as AI, semiconductors, biotechnology, shipbuilding, and nuclear energy. The deals also include a record $50 billion order by Korean Air for 103 aircraft from Boeing, purchases of South Korean-built ships, and a new shipbuilding partnership.

Lee’s strategy to diffuse tensions

From the start, Lee sought to defuse tensions. He began by complimenting one of Trump’s favored projects: the redesign of the Oval Office.

“I heard that you recently redecorated the Oval Office, and I would like to say that it looks very bright and beautiful,” Lee said through an interpreter. “It has the dignity of America, and it symbolizes the new future and prosperity of America.”

“It’s an honor to be with President Lee of South Korea… We’re going to have some very serious discussions about different things, including trade.” – President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸🇰🇷 pic.twitter.com/m9J45PjXJ6

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 25, 2025

Lee praised Trump for the Dow Jones index’s record highs and called on him to pursue Korean reunification. Lee even suggested that a Trump Tower in North Korea could be built alongside a round of golf.

Noting a “renaissance” underway, Lee said, “I believe you are the only leader who has made such accomplishments.” Lee also supported Trump’s argument that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would not have advanced his nuclear arsenal in recent years if Trump had remained in office.

Possible meeting with Kim Jong Un

Perhaps the most striking element of the meeting was Trump’s repeated focus on North Korea. “I have very good relationships with Kim Jong Un and North Korea,” he told reporters. “In fact, someday, I’ll see him. I look forward to seeing him.”

Trump suggested that he had a closer relationship with Kim than almost anyone other than the North Korean leader’s sister, Kim Yo Jong.

For his part, Lee endorsed Trump’s role as peacemaker. “The only person who can make progress is you, Mr President,” he said. “If you become the peacemaker, then I will assist you by being a pacemaker.”

Lee’s government has expressed interest in dialogue with Pyongyang, though North Korea has rebuffed recent overtures. Trump’s unique rapport with Kim remains one of the few potential avenues for talks.

Defense and trade discussions

In their discussions, Lee pledged to boost South Korea’s defense spending. “We will increase our defense budget, which will be used to transform the Korean military into a smart military that will prevail in the future,” he said.

Trade was also on the agenda. Following a July agreement, Seoul committed to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in the U.S., while tariffs on South Korean goods were set at 15% after Trump threatened to raise them to 25%.

South Korea runs one of the largest trade surpluses with the U.S. among its allies, a frequent point of tension for Trump. The president said after the meeting, “I think we have a deal done,” though he offered few details.

Lee also highlighted South Korea’s shipbuilding industry and said he hoped to expand cooperation with the U.S. The announcement was followed by Korean Air’s purchase of 103 Boeing planes, underscoring the economic stakes of the relationship.

U.S. troops and bases

The U.S. maintains about 28,500 troops in South Korea, a longstanding issue in Trump’s dealings with Seoul. Trump again pressed the question of cost-sharing and even floated taking ownership of the land used by U.S. bases.

“We spent a lot of money building a fort, and there was a contribution made by South Korea, but I would like to see if we could get rid of the lease and get ownership of the land where we have a massive military base,” Trump said.

Though no concrete steps were announced, the remarks signaled that U.S. troop commitments will remain a contentious issue in the alliance.

Lee’s balancing act

Lee, who has sometimes been portrayed by critics as skeptical of the U.S. alliance, sought to reassure Trump of Seoul’s commitment. He emphasized that the U.S.-South Korean relationship was strong and said his meeting with Trump had gone “beyond my expectations.”

He added that both sides discussed modernizing trade relations and strengthening defense ties, even as they acknowledged the difficulties ahead.

“We need each other,” Trump said of the alliance. “We love what they do, we love their product, we love their ships, we love a lot of the things they make.”

While the two leaders showcased warmth for the cameras, major issues, including the U.S. troop basing and tariffs on the future of Korean reconciliation, remained unsettled.

For Lee, the visit marked a critical first test of his presidency, one that he managed to navigate without open conflict. For Trump, it was another display of how foreign leaders increasingly tailor their approach to his personal style, hoping praise can help secure policy concessions.

South Korea’s political crisis

The cordial atmosphere contrasted sharply with Trump’s earlier social media post. Hours before the meeting, Trump wrote: “WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOUTH KOREA? Seems like a Purge or Revolution. We can’t have that and do business there.”

When asked to elaborate, Trump referred to raids on churches and even a U.S. military base by South Korean authorities. “I heard bad things,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s true or not. I’ll be finding out.”

South Korean investigators had recently raided a church led by a conservative pastor accused of ties to unrest, as well as facilities linked to the Unification Church, over corruption allegations involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee. Investigators also searched parts of Osan Air Base related to ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law, though U.S. military operations were not affected.

Sitting alongside Lee, Trump downplayed the issue: “It didn’t sound to me like South Korea.” Lee responded by explaining that the probes were part of a special prosecutor’s mandate to investigate Yoon’s actions, describing the former leader’s declaration of martial law as a “self-coup.”

At one point, Trump quipped, “Is his name Deranged Jack Smith, by any chance?” referring to the U.S. prosecutor who once pursued cases against him.

The fall of Yoon Suk Yeol

The political backdrop loomed large. Yoon, elected in 2022, had been seen as close to Trump but was ousted earlier this year after imposing martial law. Lee led parliament’s efforts to overturn Yoon’s decree, and the Constitutional Court formally removed him in April.

Lee, elected in June, rose from humble beginnings as a child laborer with a physical disability to lead the liberal Democratic Party. His victory followed years of political turmoil and multiple unsuccessful attempts at the presidency.

In Washington, Lee acknowledged that Trump’s post had initially unsettled him. He worried he might face a “Zelenskyy moment,” a reference to the contentious Oval Office meeting where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was publicly pressured earlier this year.

But Lee said the talks ultimately exceeded expectations. “Everybody gave me the advice to have patience,” he noted.