was called a “dotard” by Kim Jong-un?

The remark came after Trump said he would “totally destroy” North Korea if the US had to defend itself, and referred to North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un as “rocket man,” in a speech to the United Nations.

Kim Jong-un issued a retort on North Korean state media in which he called Trump a “mentally deranged dotard.”

The statement continued, saying Trump was “unfit to hold the prerogative of supreme command of a country,” and was “a rogue and a gangster fond of playing with fire.”

When relations between the US and North Korea again started to worsen in 2019, the latter threatened the resumption of such insults.

Dotage is defined by Merriam-Websters as “a state or period of senile decay marked by decline of mental poise and alertness.”

Trump, after meeting Kim Jong-un at the Singapore Summit later said that if he was wrong about trusting the dictator, he’d “find some kind of excuse.”

USA Today – North Korean leader: Trump is ‘mentally deranged’
BBC News – ‘Dotard’ Trump? The story of ‘rocket man’ Kim’s insult
AP News – North Korea threatens to resume calling Trump ‘dotard’
Merriam-Webster – Dotard

ended joint defense exercises between the US and South Korea at North Korea’s request?

In a major concession to North Korea, Trump said that he would be ending the “provocative” defensive joint exercises with South Korea. He also said that US soldiers stationed in South Korea should be withdrawn “at some point.” It was unclear what concessions and assurances North Korea offered in return. In response, Congress passed budget legislation prohibiting the reduction of US forces in South Korea below 22,000.

The move came after a summit between Trump and Kim Jong Un in Singapore, which featured an awkward moment where Trump saluted a North Korean officer. Trump had said he didn’t need to prepare or take notes for the historic meeting.

Trump gave his assurances that if he was wrong about trusting Kim Jong Un, he’d “find some kind of excuse.”

The New York Times – Pentagon and Seoul Surprised by Trump Pledge to Halt Military Exercises
Reuters – Trump surprises with pledge to end military exercises in South Korea
ABC News – Trump’s pledge to stop ‘war games’ with South Korea throws critical exercises into question
Time – ‘Think of It From a Real Estate Perspective’: The Most Memorable Quotes From the Trump-Kim Summit Press Conference
The Hill – Bipartisan House group introduces bills to stall Syria, South Korea troop withdrawals
WIkipedia – 2018 North Korea–United States Singapore Summit

said he didn’t need preparation or notes for a summit with Kim Jong-Un?

Trump explained that he didn’t need to prepare much for an upcoming summit with North Korea in Singapore, a first between the two nations. Instead, he explained that it was all about “attitude.”

He also said that he didn’t need notes from the meeting, due to having “one of the great memories of all time,” a claim Trump has repeated elsewhere.

After the meeting, Trump declared he would end “provocative” joint defense exercises in South Korea.

Boomberg – Trump Says He Doesn’t Need to ‘Prepare Very Much’ for Kim Summit
Politico – Trump says Kim meeting will be about ‘attitude,’ not prep work
ABC News – Trump says he doesn’t need to ‘prepare very much’ for North Korea summit, ‘it’s about attitude’
The Hill – Trump on lack of notes from Kim meeting: ‘I have one of the great memories of all time’

said about a wedge between the US and South Korea, “I know more about wedges than any human being that’s ever lived, but I’ll let you know”?

Trump had recently announced that he would be ending joint military exercises with South Korea, at the North’s request. During an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Trump was asked if North Korea was trying to drive a wedge between the US and South Korea when he made the remark.

WSJ: You think North Korea is trying to drive a wedge between the two countries, between you and President Moon?

Mr. Trump: I’ll let you know in—within the next 12 months, OK, Mike?

WSJ: Sure.

Mr. Trump: I will let you know. But if I were them I would try. But the difference is I’m president; other people aren’t. And I know more about wedges than any human being that’s ever lived, but I’ll let you know. But I’ll tell you, you know, when you talk about driving a wedge, we also have a thing called trade. And South Korea—brilliantly makes—we have a trade deficit with South Korea of $31 billion a year. That’s a pretty strong bargaining chip to me.

The Wall Street Journal – Transcript of Donald Trump Interview With The Wall Street Journal

asked “a pretty Korean lady” intelligence analyst why she wasn’t part of North Korean negotiations?

The analyst was briefing Trump on Pakistan when he asked where her people were from and why she wasn’t involved with North Korea.

The remarks came a day after Trump made a reference to “shithole countries.”

Business Insider – Trump’s ‘pretty Korean lady’ comment draws swift backlash
The Guardian – Trump asked why ‘pretty Korean lady’ analyst wasn’t in North Korea negotiations

saluted a North Korean military officer?

The salute came during a historic 2018 summit between Trump and Kim Jong-un held in Singapore.

The North Korean officer saluted Trump and offered his hand for a shake. Trump returned the salute before shaking hands.

The scene was circulated by North Korean state media. The subsequent photo appeared especially egregious, as it implied that Trump’s salute was unprompted.

Image result for trump salutes korean officer

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in Trump’s defense,

It’s a common courtesy when a military official from another government salutes that you return that.

Trump said of the historic meeting that he didn’t need preparation or notes, due to it being all about “attitude” and his having “one of the greatest memories.” He also asked the press to ensure that he and Kim looked “nice and thin and perfect.”

The Hill – North Korea state TV airs footage of Trump saluting North Korean military officer
Business Insider – Vladimir Putin refused a salute from a North Korean general, which Trump controversially accepted
Politico – Trump faces backlash after saluting North Korean general
The New York Times – White House Defends Trump’s Salute to a North Korean Military Officer
NBC News – North Korean state media footage shows Trump saluting NK general

said if he was wrong about trusting Kim Jong-un, “I’ll find some kind of an excuse”?

On June 12, 2018, Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un held a historic summit meeting in Singapore. They signed a joint statement in which North Korea agreed to begin denuclearizing in exchange for security assurances. When asked about whether he believed North Korea could be trusted, and what he would do if they backed out of any the agreement, Trump replied,

I may be wrong, I mean I may stand before you in six months and say, ‘Hey I was wrong.’ I don’t know that I’ll ever admit that, but I’ll find some kind of an excuse.

Trump had said he didn’t need to prepare or take notes for the historic meeting.

Following the summit, Trump declared an end to joint defensive exercises in South Korea. North Korea has not yet denuclearized. Congress passed budget legislation prohibiting the reduction of US forces in South Korea below 22,000.

The Hill – Trump: If I was wrong about Kim, ‘I’ll find some kind of an excuse’
Business Insider – Trump says if he ends up being wrong about Kim Jong Un, he probably won’t admit it and will find ‘some kind of an excuse’
The Hill – Bipartisan House group introduces bills to stall Syria, South Korea troop withdrawals
WIkipedia – 2018 North Korea–United States Singapore Summit

thanked Kim Jong-Un for being “excellent” to three kidnapped Americans?

Two of the Americans had been held for a year, while the third had been held for three years.

As Trump welcomed them upon their return, he remarked, “We want to thank Kim Jong-un, who really was excellent to these three incredible people.” Trump went on to say to the three Americans, “I think you probably broke the all-time-in-history television rating for 3 o’clock in the morning.”

The New York Times – Trump Exults in Release of Prisoners and a Date Next Month With Kim Jong-un
The New York Times – Trump Greets 3 American Detainees Freed From North Korea
Politico – Trump thanks Kim Jong Un as he welcomes home detainees from North Korea
USA Today – Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer slams Trump’s kind words for Kim Jong Un

bragged that his nuclear button was “bigger and more powerful” than Kim Jong-un’s?

During a period of heightened tensions with North Korea, Trump tweeted about his “much bigger & more powerful” nuclear button.

The tweet sent social media into a state of agitation, with some arguing that Twitter should not allow for “calls for nuclear war” on its platform.

The nuclear button is not to be confused with the red button Trump installed on his desk to summon soft drinks.

The New York Times – Trump Says His ‘Nuclear Button’ Is ‘Much Bigger’ Than North Korea’s
BBC – Trump to Kim: My nuclear button is ‘bigger and more powerful’

asked reporters at his meeting with Kim Jong-Un to make them look “nice and thin and perfect”?

The North Korean dictator appeared to react with some confusion. During the meeting, Trump also prompted an incredulous look when he saluted a North Korean officer.

Kim was caught on camera looking completely nonplussed by the President's joke, though it is not clear if he understood what was said

NPR – An Upbeat Trump Praises Kim’s Commitment To Denuclearize After Singapore Summit
Daily Mail – Hilarious moment Kim Jong-un looked VERY unimpressed after Trump asks photographers to make them look ‘nice and handsome and thin and perfect’

 

More assuredly to come soon

Error: Please refresh