Hours before South Korean president Lee Jae Myung was due to meet US president Donald Trump, a Truth Social post dropped. Beginning with 'WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOUTH KOREA?' the post referred to a 'Purge or Revolution' concerning the prosecution of former president Yoon Suk Yeol, who attempted to impose martial law last December.
In the Oval Office, Trump criticized South Korea's actions, mentioning 'raids on churches'. However, Lee, a seasoned politician, successfully turned on the charm and avoided what officials feared would be a repeat of the contentious visits from Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky or South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa.
Lee complimented the Oval Office decor and praised the rapport that Trump has with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, even joking about a potential Trump Tower in North Korea.
He expressed the belief that unification with the North is best achieved through dialogue. Trump noted that both countries 'need each other', emphasizing mutual respect for South Korean products.
As the meeting concluded, it appeared that Lee's flattery helped avoid a diplomatic misstep, a concern amplified by Trump's prior remarks. Later, when reporters inquired about Trump's comments on supposed South Korean church raids, he indicated that it was a misunderstanding and expressed confidence they'd work it out.
