Trump got touchy with Kim Jong Un, patting him on the back and touching his elbow

President Trump meets Kim Jong Un

By Veronica Rocha, Brian Ries, Ben Westcott, Meg Wagner and Amanda Wills, CNN

Updated 11:03 a.m. ET, June 12, 2018
39 Posts
Sort byDropdown arrow
9:34 p.m. ET, June 11, 2018

Trump got touchy with Kim Jong Un, patting him on the back and touching his elbow

From CNN's Jeremy Diamond

President Trump gestures as he meets with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un at the start of their historic US-North Korea summit, at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore on June 12, 2018.
President Trump gestures as he meets with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un at the start of their historic US-North Korea summit, at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore on June 12, 2018.

President Trump and Kim held their first handshake for a dozen seconds as they exchanged a few inaudible words before a display of American and North Korean flags. It was just the beginning of a warm exchange of body language between the two men.

Trump briefly grabbed Kim's upper arm at the beginning of their handshake and then put his arm on Kim's back to guide them to their meeting room.

They then spoke briefly in a corridor before entering their meeting room and both men were smiling as they shook hands again with just two interpreters at their sides. 

Trump patted Kim on the back at several points as they made their way along a colonnade to a room for their first meeting.

Trump also offered Kim a thumbs' up after Kim said "we overcame all" of the obstacles that stood in their way.

9:34 p.m. ET, June 11, 2018

The interpreter with Trump works in the State Department

From CNN's Betsy Klein

US President Trump shakes hands with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un during their first meetings at the Capella resort on Sentosa Island Tuesday, June 12, 2018 in Singapore.
US President Trump shakes hands with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un during their first meetings at the Capella resort on Sentosa Island Tuesday, June 12, 2018 in Singapore.

The interpreter with President Trump is Dr. Yun-hyang Lee, according to a source source familiar.

She’s the division chief of interpreting services at the State Department. 

9:29 p.m. ET, June 11, 2018

Trump and Kim have met. Here's what happens next.

President Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un are now meeting one-on-one, the first time a sitting US president has sat down for talks with a North Korean leader.

They are expected to speak alone for another 40 minutes, before other advisers join them for expanded talks at 10 a.m. local time (10 p.m. ET).

The two men will then hold a working lunch, beginning at 11.30 a.m. local time, before the summit ends in the afternoon.

No time has been announced for when the talks might conclude.

President Trump is expected to speak to reporters at 4 p.m. local time (4 a.m. ET), when we're likely to hear what has been accomplished during the day.

Air Force One will then depart Singapore in the early evening, at about 7 p.m. local time.

9:16 p.m. ET, June 11, 2018

Trump, sitting next to Kim Jong Un, predicts summit will be "tremendously successful"

Speaking to reporters after their first handshake, President Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un expressed optimism that the summit would be a success.

What Trump said: The President expressed hope that the historic summit would be "tremendously successful." Sitting next to the North Korean leader, Trump said, "We will have a terrific relationship ahead."

What Kim said: The North Korean dictator said there were a number of "obstacles" to the meeting taking place in Singapore today. "We overcame all of them and we are here today," he told reporters through a translator.

Watch:

9:13 p.m. ET, June 11, 2018

Trump and Kim to begin one-on-one talks

President Trump and Kim Jong Un have headed in for their first face-to-face talks on Tuesday, joined only by two translators.

They'll meet one-on-one for just under an hour, before expanded talks begin at 10 a.m. local time (10 p.m. ET).

On the agenda are North Korea's nuclear capabilities. Trump is hoping he can convince Kim to give up his weapons.

It is the meeting which the Trump has teased could happen for years. In May 2016, during his campaign, Trump said he would be willing to sit down with Kim.

"I would speak to him, I would have no problem speaking to him," Trump said at the time.

9:11 p.m. ET, June 11, 2018

History made: President Trump and Kim Jong Un shake hands

President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met and shook hands, kicking off their history-making summit Tuesday morning local time.

They are the first leaders of their respective countries to meet, the culmination of months of diplomatic wrangling and negotiations.

It is a stunning development for the two nations, who regularly traded threats and insults throughout 2017.

The two men will now meet one-on-one meeting in the Capella Hotel, accompanied only by their translators, ahead of expanded talks at 10 a.m. local time (10 p.m. ET).

On the agenda is North Korea's nuclear capabilities, which Trump is hoping to convince them to abandon in exchange for economic assistance.

Watch the historic moment:

9:02 p.m. ET, June 11, 2018

First look: Trump arrives at summit site

From CNN's Kevin Liptak

President Trump has emerged from his limousine at the site of his summit with Kim Jong Un. Cameras captured Trump, in a red tie, stepping from his car and into the hotel building. 

8:57 p.m. ET, June 11, 2018

First look: North Korea's Kim Jong Un enters the hotel

North Korea's Kim Jong Un is entering the Capella Hotel on Sentosa Island.

Watch the moment:

10:34 p.m. ET, June 11, 2018

Moments before summit, Trump tweets economic adviser Larry Kudlow has had a heart attack

Moments after he arrived at the summit site for his historic meeting, President Trump sent a tweet announcing that chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow has suffered a heart attack.

"Our Great Larry Kudlow, who has been working so hard on trade and the economy, has just suffered a heart attack. He is now in Walter Reed Medical Center," Trump tweeted.

10:31 p.m. ET: The White House later said Kudlow is in good condition after suffering a “very mild heart attack.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said "his doctors expect he will make a full and speedy recovery."

Kudlow was not traveling with the President in Singapore, but he had just returned to the US from the G7 summit in Canada, where trade tensions dominated the atmosphere.

Here's Trump's tweet:

This post has been updated with new details about Kudlow's heart attack.