WORLD NEWS – Trump criticizes South Korea hours before summit with new President Lee

Ananya Roy, News Writer

U.S. President Donald Trump sharply criticized South Korea on social media Monday, just hours before his first summit with newly elected President Lee Jae Myung. Trump claimed, without evidence, that there “Seems like a Purge or Revolution” in South Korea, warning, “We can’t have that and do business there.” The remarks added tension to an already delicate meeting, as Trump is expected to pressure Lee over defense spending and the costs of maintaining U.S. troops in the country.

Lee, who took office in June after his conservative predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol was ousted for attempting to impose martial law, faces a balancing act between maintaining South Korea’s U.S. security alliance while not straining relations with China, its largest trading partner. Trump’s post fueled speculation that the summit could become combative, with lingering disputes over trade, military costs, and the ongoing trial of ex-president Yoon casting a shadow. The South Korean presidential office said it was reviewing Trump’s comments, while the White House offered no immediate response.