What we're covering
• Trump in Asia: President Donald Trump has again been lavished with gifts and praise during his diplomatic blitz, in which he met with South Korean leader Lee Jae Myung. Despite earlier floating a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Trump said he wouldn’t be able to do so on this trip.
• Xi talks loom: All eyes are on his upcoming meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to discuss a potential trade deal with global economic impact.
• Day 29 of shutdown: Back in the US, Senate Democrats again blocked Republicans’ stopgap funding bill from advancing as both parties remain firm despite the shutdown’s shockwaves.
A golden crown, a medal and the YMCA: How South Korea flattered Trump
US President Donald Trump has been showered with opulence in South Korea, where he’s just wrapped up a meeting with the country’s leader, Lee Jae Myung, on the final leg of his whistle-stop tour of Asia.
Upon arrival, Trump was greeted by a military band playing “YMCA,” the Village People classic that’s become a rallying cry of sorts for the president and his political movement.
He then addressed CEOs at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, where he touted his tariff policy and hinted that a trade deal with South Korea would be finalized “very soon,” before his meeting with Lee.
Appealing to Trump’s love of gold, South Korea gifted Trump a golden crown, its highest honor and treated him to a gold-themed dessert.
All eyes are now on his upcoming meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday local time, where the leaders are expected to discuss a potential trade deal with global economic impacts.
Trump said he would not meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on this trip to Asia, though he’d previously indicated multiple times that he was open to doing so.
Here’s the latest from South Korea:
- The medal: Trump is the first American leader to receive South Korea’s highest honor, the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, awarded in recognition of his efforts to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula.
- The crown: Lee gifted Trump a replica of a historic golden crown in South Korea, the latest lavish present to be bestowed upon him on his Asia tour.
- The dessert: Rounding out the menu for Trump’s working lunch with Lee was a dessert of “Gold-adorned brownies and tangerines… served on a plate lettered with the word “PEACE” to “celebrate a golden era of the Korea-US alliance,” Lee’s office said.
- What Lee wants: South Korea’s leader is pushing for US approval for his country to acquire fuel for nuclear-powered submarines, which it wants to build to keep up with North Korean and Chinese submarines.
- Defense spending: Lee said he will increase South Korea’s military spending to lessen the “burden” on the US.
- Anti-Trump protests: Trump faced small but vocal protests in Gyeongju, South Korea. Anti-Trump activists held up signs and placards, protesting what organizers described as Trump’s “authoritarian” agenda.
Trump treated to a "gold-themed dessert" in South Korea
South Korea is appealing to US President Donald Trump’s love of gold during his trip to the country this week.
Rounding off the menu for the president’s working lunch with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung was a “gold-themed dessert” that is supposed to symbolize “the two nations’ shared commitment to peace and prosperity.”
Gold-adorned brownies and tangerines will be served on a plate lettered with the word “PEACE” to “celebrate a golden era of the Korea-US alliance,” according to Lee’s office.
Earlier, Trump was presented with a replica of a historic golden crown, based on the ancient Silla Kingdom’s gold crown that’s on display at the Gyeongju National Museum.
And Lee wore a custom made gold-colored tie, which his office said “reflects President Trump’s taste for gold, captures the golden future of the South Korea-US alliance and the status of South Korea,” Reuters news agency reported.
Since taking office in January, Trump has brought his proclivity for the precious metal to the White House. The Oval Office has been adorned with lashings of gold decoration, and Trump’s new State Ballroom currently under construction is expected to be replete with gold and crystal chandeliers, gold inlays and gilded columns.
Also on the menu in Gyeongju is an appetizer of Korean seafood with Thousand Island dressing in “a nod to Trump’s New York roots” followed by a main course of short ribs (galbijjim) made from American beef, assorted vegetables and “freshly harvested Gyeongju rice.”
At a dinner banquet later in the day, guests will be served Trump Chardonnay and Trump Cabernet Sauvignon from a winery run by Trump’s son, Eric Trump, according to Lee’s office.
China confirms Xi-Trump meeting on Thursday
China’s foreign ministry has confirmed Chinese leader Xi Jinping will meet with US President Donald Trump in South Korea tomorrow.
The two sides will “exchange views on US-China relations and issues of mutual concern,” a ministry spokesperson said, adding that the meeting would happen in the city of Busan.
Washington announced the much-anticipated summit several days earlier. Beijing typically refrains from confirming the attendance of top officials until meetings draw near.
South Korea's Lee asks Trump for nuclear-powered submarine fuel
South Korea is again pushing for US approval to acquire fuel for nuclear-powered submarines, which it wants to build so it can keep up with North Korean and Chinese submarines.
South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung made the request directly to US President Donald Trump when the pair met in Gyeongju, South Korea, on Wednesday.
“If the President would make a decision to allow us to receive fuel for nuclear-powered submarines, we would appreciate it,” Lee said ahead of his bilateral meeting with Trump Wednesday.
Lee said South Korea did not intend to build submarines that could carry nuclear weapons, but conventionally armed submarines powered by nuclear energy.
“Diesel-powered submarines lack submerging capability limiting us to track North Korean or Chinese submarines,” he said.
Lee said that with US approval for the fuel imports, and new submarines, South Korea could eventually “conduct naval defense operations” in the seas around the Korean Peninsula to “significantly reduce the burden on US forces.’
Some context: Previous South Korean administrations have voiced interest in acquiring a nuclear-powered submarine, but the US has long opposed this, citing concerns over proliferation.
Earlier this year, North Korea showed off what it said was its own under construction nuclear-powered submarine, a weapons system that can pose a major security threat to South Korea and the US.
Amazon subsidiary to invest a further $5 billion in South Korea
Amazon’s cloud computing platform, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced plans to invest more than $5 billion in South Korea on Wednesday, in addition to the $4 billion it had already pledged.
The new investment, announced at a meeting between AWS CEO Matt Garman and South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, includes the construction of additional artificial intelligence data centers in the Incheon and Gyeonggi regions, near the country’s capital, Seoul.
The plan came after AWS announced a $4 billion investment to build an AI data center in the Southeastern city of Ulsan in June.
The Korean government is actively pursuing AI projects and related energy infrastructure “with the goal of becoming one of the world’s top three AI powers,” according to the statement.
Earlier in the month, AWS suffered from a massive outage that resulted in some of the world’s largest online platforms going down, including Reddit and Snapchat. Most platforms were able to come back online within a few hours after the outage.
South Korea's Lee praises US stock market, pledges to increase military spending
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said he will increase his country’s military spending to lessen the “burden” on the United States.
Lee said he wants to “modernize” South Korea’s alliance with the US, ahead of a bilateral meeting with President Donald Trump at the Gyeongju National Museum on Wednesday.
South Korea’s current defense budget is about 1.4 times the total gross domestic product of North Korea, Lee said.
Market activity has long been Trump’s preferred indicator of economic strength and Lee appeared to flatter the US president by talking about the strength of the US stock market.
Trump confirms timing didn't work out for a Kim Jong Un meeting
President Donald Trump confirmed he will not meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his trip to South Korea and blamed timing.
Trump made his comments to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, adding that he remained committed to peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Trump said his plans to meet with China’s leader Xi Jinping were the focus of the visit.
Trump previously had expressed openness to extending his trip to meet with Kim, but he vowed Wednesday that he will be “working on this very hard” with Lee and his team.
“The Korean peninsula, and I know you are officially at war, but we will see what we can do to get that all straightened out,” he said.
Lee praised Trump for being willing to have dialogue with the North Korean leader, saying he hoped Kim would see Trump’s “true heart and intention.”
Some context: Lee, who took office in June, has emphasized easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula while holding onto the longtime goal of denuclearizing North Korea. He takes a more open stance on dialogue with North Korea than his conservative predecessor.
Trump says gift of ancient golden crown replica is "very special"
President Donald Trump has been gifted a replica of a historic golden crown in South Korea, the latest eye-catching present to be bestowed upon him during his frenetic tour of Asia this week.
The gift was presented by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung as the two meet in the South Korean city of Gyeongju on Wednesday.
Trump said it was “very special.”
The replica is based on the ancient Silla Kingdom’s gold crown, which symbolized “sacred authority and absolute rule” of kings and ruling class, according to the National Museum of Korea.
Silla’s gold crowns depict a tree with branches spreading upwards, “signifying the king’s heavenly mandate,” according to the museum.
The kingdom was one of three ancient dynasties that ruled the Korean peninsula, and its artwork from the 5th and 6th centuries is considered particularly exquisite.
Trump presented with South Korea’s highest honour: "I would like to wear it right now"
US President Donald Trump has become the first American leader to receive South Korea’s highest honor, the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, which has been awarded to him in recognition of his efforts to fulfil peace on the Korean Peninsula.
“I would like to wear it right now,” Trump said, after being presented the medal by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Gyeongju, where he’s attending the APEC CEO summit.
Trump said he would cherish the “beautiful” medal, saying it was a “great honor” to receive it and adding that US-South Korean relations would only get stronger.
Lee praised Trump’s efforts to resolve issues with North Korea and, again, requested him to play the role of “peacemaker,” the Seoul’s presidential office said.
When the two met at the White House in August, Lee asked Trump to play the role of peacemaker to improve inter-Korean relations.
During his first term in office, Trump held a series of unprecedented meeting with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un. There has been speculation the pair could meet again while Trump is in Asia this week, but earlier on Wednesday Trump say he might need to “come back” for that.
The grand order of Mugunghwa is usually presented to South Korean presidents but can also be given to presidents of allies who significantly contribute to securing South Korea’s national security.
French President Emmanuel Macron was previously presented the medal by former President Moon Jae-in in 2018, according to Yonhap.
After some questioned his tariff policies, Trump claims there are “no critics left”
Months after he returned to office and systematically began reimagining long-held alliances and the role of the US in the world through his tariff policies, President Donald Trump addressed a crowd of global business leaders and focused on his accomplishments.
Trump told a crowd of CEOs and other VIPs that tariffs have ushered in what he described as “a new era of trade that truly works for both sides.”
He added: “This week, we proved once and for all that few critics, you know, few critics – there were no critics left. The only critics are people that took advantage of us for many years, and now they’re not able to do that.”
Trump pointed to new investment in the US and GDP growth, US leadership in AI, falling mortgage rates, lowering inflation, and steel and electricity production. He highlighted plans for the US to partner with South Korea on shipbuilding. He described his efforts to slash government spending and eliminate federal jobs. And he celebrated his efforts to end wars across the globe.
Trump talked at length about his poll numbers and his 2024 victory. He also mused upon the passage of time, noting that one year ago, he was still on the campaign trail.
True success, Trump told the business leaders, “comes from having the confidence and the courage to prove the doubters wrong.”
Trade deal with South Korea to be finalized "very soon," Trump says
US President Donald Trump said a trade deal with South Korea would be finalized “very soon.”
Speaking to business leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, Trump said he had signed “groundbreaking agreements” with Malaysia, Cambodia and Japan during his Asia trip.
“These agreements will be incredible victories for all of us, because everyone is better off when we have stable partnerships, not plagued by chronic problems and imbalances.”
Some context: Even though the longtime US ally negotiated a tariff rate of 15%, a lower rate than many other countries, the increase from virtually zero has dampened South Korea’s economy.
South Korean exports, which make up more than 40% of the country’s GDP, are forecast to slow sharply this year due to Trump’s tariffs, according to government think tank Korea Development Institute’s research in August.
Much like other key trading nations, South Korea is under huge pressure to invest eye-watering sums in the US in order to secure a deal.
Under a preliminary trade deal in July, South Korea agreed to invest at least $350 billion in the United States.
Asked by CNN whether he expects to sign a finalized trade deal with Trump, Lee said last week that he would like to reach a result “as soon as possible” but bridging all the gaps would take time.
Trump met by protesters as he arrives in South Korea
As US President Donald Trump arrived in Gyeongju, South Korea on Wednesday he was met by small but vocal protests.
Anti-Trump activists held up signs and placards, with some referencing the “No Kings” rallies that have been held across the US, protesting what organizers described as Trump’s “authoritarian” agenda.
At the rally, some protesters decried the imposition of tariffs on countries in the region, with one woman calling them “oppressive” and “cruel.”
“It will have a devastating impact on the lives of people in this region,” she said, according to Reuters news agency.
The protest contrasts sharply with the warm reception Trump received from Japan’s leader on the second leg of his trip, where the two allies welcomed a “new golden era” of US-Japan relations and extolled their longstanding friendship.
Security in Gyeongju was tightened ahead of Trump’s arrival, where he will deliver keynote remarks at the APEC CEO luncheon before meeting South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
Protesters had erected a cardboard cutout of Trump’s face and waved red cards saying it was a “warning” and an “ultimatum to Trump to leave Asia-Pacific alone.”
High-stakes talks await Trump in South Korea. Here's the latest
President Donald Trump has touched down in South Korea, where he was greeted by a military band playing “YMCA,” a rallying cry of sorts for the president and his political movement.
He’ll soon address a luncheon of CEOs at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit of regional leaders. Later today, he meets with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who will gift him a replica of a historic golden crown.
But all eyes will be on an expected meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday local time, where the two leaders are anticipated to discuss a potential trade deal with global economic impacts.
In Japan, Trump and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi traded praise and signed a rare-earth agreement in a charm-charged summit that saw him served American rice and gifted the assassinated Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s golf putter.
En route to South Korea, he spoke to reporters on several global and domestic issues:
- On a third term: Trump has said it is “pretty clear” the US Constitution does not permit him to run for a third term in office. “I would say that if you read it, [the Constitution] it’s pretty clear, I’m not allowed to run. It’s too bad. But we have a lot of great people.”
- On fentanyl: Trump said he expects big progress on the issue in his meeting with Xi. Asked whether he would lower fentanyl-related tariffs on China, Trump said: “I expect to be lowering that because I believe that they’re going to help us with the fentanyl situation.
- On Gaza: Trump said the ceasefire was not in jeopardy after Israel launched strikes that killed at least 42 people in the enclave.
- On Taiwan: Trump said he doesn’t know whether the self-ruled island, which Beijing claims, will be on the agenda during his meeting with Xi.
- On Kim Jong Un: Trump said he will meet with the North Korean leader “at some point in the not too distant future,” but suggested he might have to come back to Asia for it — the clearest indication yet that a meeting may not go ahead this week.
- On Hurricane Melissa: Trump said the US is prepared to aid Jamaica in its recovery.
- On Canada: Trump expressed disinterest in meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney, as tensions between the North American neighbors escalate. “We didn’t come to South Korea to see Canada!” the president posted to social media.
Trump to be gifted ancient golden crown replica by South Korea's leader
South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung will gift Donald Trump a replica of a historic golden crown on Wednesday, the latest eye-catching present to be bestowed upon the US president during his frenetic tour of Asia this week.
The gift will be presented as the two meet in the South Korean city of Gyeongju on Wednesday.
South Korea’s presidential office said the gift would signify “the new era of peaceful coexistence and joint growth on the Korean Peninsula that South Korea and the US will work together on.”
The replica is based on the ancient Silla Kingdom’s gold crown, which symbolized “sacred authority and absolute rule” of kings and ruling class, according to the National Museum of Korea.
The kingdom was one of three ancient dynasties that ruled the Korean peninsula, and its artwork from the 5th and 6th centuries is considered particularly exquisite.
Silla’s gold crowns depict a tree with branches spreading upwards, “signifying the king’s heavenly mandate,” according to the museum. Decorations also include animals.
Trump is expected to view six Silla gold crowns, brought together for the first time for an exhibition at APEC, a regional summit of Pacific leaders being hosted in Gyeongju. The Silla kingdom was located in the southeastern part of the Korean peninsula, where Gyeongju is today.
Yesterday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi gifted Trump a golf bag signed by golfing star Hideki Matsuyama and a putter owned by assassinated Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
South Korea’s gift might raise eyebrows among some of Trump’s critics in the US who have organized growing protests under the banner of a “No Kings” movement.
