Tension over Trump's 'Purge' Post on Social Media... U.S. Media States 'A Feared Situation Was Avoided'
Summary
- U.S. President Trump reportedly posted a critical statement on Truth Social ahead of the summit, saying it would be difficult to do business in South Korea.
- U.S. media outlets such as Bloomberg and The Washington Post assessed that the anticipated tension did not occur during the summit.
- After the meeting, President Trump spoke positively about President Lee, signaling the potential easing of uncertainty in the business environment between the two countries.
On the 25th (local time), regarding the U.S.-South Korea summit between President Lee Jae-myung and U.S. President Donald Trump held at the White House, U.S. media evaluated that 'the anticipated tension was avoided.'
On this day, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social about 2 hours and 40 minutes before the summit with President Lee Jae-myung, "What is happening in South Korea? It looks like a purge or a revolution is taking place," and added, "We cannot do business in such a place. I am scheduled to meet South Korea's new president at the White House today."
The purge or revolution mentioned by President Trump reminds us of the suppression and election fraud allegations against former President Yoon Suk-yeol, claimed by some far-right figures in both South Korea and the U.S. There was considerable room for this to be interpreted as criticism of the Lee administration. Many also viewed his subsequent statement about it being difficult to do business in South Korea as critical in meaning.
Accordingly, local media predicted that President Trump's remarks, targeting the investigation by South Korea's special prosecutor, could create an uncomfortable moment for President Lee during the summit. However, during the meeting at the Oval Office (the president's office at the White House), the two leaders exchanged friendly conversation. Bloomberg evaluated this as 'a sign that President Lee's efforts to win President Trump's favor paid off.'
The U.S. daily The Washington Post (WP) also reported on the summit, stating, "President Trump criticized South Korea's political situation on social media, but avoided tension during the meeting." WP also conveyed that President Trump ultimately concluded his previous remarks with President Lee as a simple "misunderstanding" and commented, "I feel very warmly about South Korea."
After the summit with President Lee, President Trump praised him during the proclamation signing ceremony, saying, "He (President Lee) is a very good guy and a very good representative of South Korea."
Reporter Song-Ryeol Lee, Hankyung.com yisr0203@hankyung.com
Korea Economic Daily
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