Fox News, Trump’s supporters, and even some mainstream media pundits are already praising the success of the North Korea summit between the American president and Kim Jong un. Although no clear terms were written out on which the two agreed and only some vague talk about an eventual plan for denuclearization was mentioned, there are those who already believe this meeting was beneficial and a great idea.
NEW: President Trump to @GStephanopoulos on whether North Korea will get rid of all its nuclear weapons: "It's de-nuking. I mean he's de-nuking the whole place, and he's gonna start very quickly. I think he's going to start now." https://t.co/llaauA1hRO pic.twitter.com/e1v3p4JTrd
— ABC News (@ABC) June 12, 2018
Trump told reporters, however, that it’s possible that none of this was a good idea, but that he’ll never admit it if it wasn’t.
‘I may be wrong and stand before you in six months and say, “Hey I was wrong.” I don’t think I’ll ever admit that, but I’ll find some kind of excuse.’
Trump says he trusts Kim Jong Un. And if he's wrong? "I may be wrong, I mean I may stand before you in six months and say, 'Hey I was wrong,'" said Trump, before adding, "I don't know that I'll ever admit that, but I'll find some kind of an excuse." https://t.co/J2k6ehVhW1 pic.twitter.com/onKaUHP2f3
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) June 12, 2018
The two signed an agreement that saw the U.S. conceding much but receiving little in return. The North Korean dictator signed terms saying that he would begin a process of denuclearization with no timeline, no terms, and no agreement to allow for verification that North Korea is keeping its promises. Since Trump and Kim Jong un met privately for 45 minutes without recorders, foreign policy experts, or the press present, there is no way that the American people can know what was really said or verbally agreed to by these two men.
Hallie Jackson: "Kim Jong Un has killed family members, has starved his own people…why are you so comfortable calling him 'very talented'?"
President Trump: "Well he is very talented…I don't say 'he was nice.'" pic.twitter.com/aC8XGfuGs6
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) June 12, 2018
Trump, therefore, cannot be held accountable for any concessions or promises he made on behalf of the American people. He has publicly excoriated President Obama for the terms of the Iran nuclear deal and his rabid fan base agrees with the criticism, but that’s only because they know what was in that deal and believes what they’ve been told has and has not occurred as a result of it. We will never be able to say the same about this particular agreement, but the American people will also never know if any promises were kept, and the president sure won’t tell us.
President Trump: "I do" trust Kim Jong Un, he tells CNN's @Acosta https://t.co/hkIsOj59bB pic.twitter.com/ipnc47XAQf
— CNN (@CNN) June 12, 2018
Featured image via Getty/Win McNamee
