Throughout a gathering with President Donald Trump on Wednesday, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung gifted the U.S. chief with a literal crown, whereas lauding his commitment to peacemaking.
The foot-tall crown is a reproduction of a treasured South Korean relic that was unearthed from royal tombs in Gyeongju within the Seventies.
Whereas Trump didn’t sign an curiosity in sporting the headpiece, according to The New York Times, the present notably comes because the president’s crackdown on immigrants and deployment of troops have been the topic of “No Kings” protests in each the U.S. and Korea.
Lee additionally bestowed Trump with the “Grand Order of Mugunghwa,” South Korea’s highest civil honor, and an accompanying necklace.
“It’s as stunning as it will probably presumably be,” Trump mentioned of the distinction, which has by no means beforehand been awarded to a U.S. president. “I’d wish to put on it proper now.”
South Korea’s gesture adopted the same set of actions by Japan, the place Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi graced Trump with a series of golf gifts and signaled that she intends to appoint him for the Nobel Peace Prize earlier this week.
These blatant efforts to play to Trump’s ego come as each nations have finalized commerce offers with the U.S. and underscore how world leaders have sought to interact the president as they search favorable phrases.
“South Korea is the most recent nation to bathe Trump with items, as world leaders use a mixture of flattery and pageantry to cater to a president who has displayed a willingness to torpedo long-standing alliances,” The Washington Post reported.
Trump famous Wednesday that South Korea had agreed to pay $350 billion to the U.S. in exchange for tariffs to be lowered. He added that he’d granted the nation permission to construct a nuclear-powered submarine.
“An incredible journey, with a terrific President of South Korea!” Trump touted.
Trump and Japan’s leaders had additionally beforehand introduced the same deal that included a $550 billion investment in the U.S. This week, they inked one other deal on the availability of important minerals whereas heralding a “golden age” in bilateral relations.
South Korea and Japan’s approaches level to the methods that nations are using to realize Trump’s assist with the intention to keep away from insurance policies like steeper tariffs. Their strategies echo these utilized by quite a lot of world leaders who’ve capitalized on pomp and circumstance, reward and items in a bid to attach with the president.
“International leaders are anticipating a optimistic relationship with President Trump and to take part within the booming Trump financial system,” Anna Kelly, a White Home spokesperson, previously told NPR.
Their actions, nonetheless, additionally coincide with ongoing tensions with the administration over points just like the remedy of South Korean staff throughout a raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia.
“Nothing is endlessly. You’ll be able to go from [Trump’s] good record to the naughty record and again with some alacrity,” Justin Logan, director of protection and overseas coverage research on the CATO Institute, informed NPR. “That’s the actually unnerving factor. So I feel the lesson right here will likely be, hold larding on the reward, even when it doesn’t really feel so nice.”
