Trump Meets South Korea’s New President Amid Talk of ‘Revolution’
- The New York Editorial Desk - Arif
- Aug 25
- 3 min read
Tone & Political Bias: Moderately Right-Leaning
Why: The article highlights Trump’s framing of South Korea’s leadership change as a “purge or revolution” and emphasizes trade imbalances, a frequent theme in Trump’s rhetoric. The reporting itself remains factual but reflects Trump’s perspective more strongly than Lee’s.
Trump’s Comments Before the Meeting
President Donald Trump met South Korea’s new president, Lee Jae Myung, at the White House on Monday. Hours earlier, Trump posted on social media that South Korea seemed to be undergoing a “Purge or Revolution” and warned this could affect U.S. business ties.
The post raised uncertainty, as South Korea has faced political upheaval following the removal of its former leader, Yoon Suk Yeol, earlier this year.
Background on South Korea’s Political Turmoil
Yoon Suk Yeol, elected in 2022, was removed from office after briefly imposing martial law in December 2024. His decision sparked widespread protests and was overturned by parliament, led by opposition lawmakers, including Lee.
In April, the Constitutional Court dismissed Yoon, paving the way for Lee’s rise. Lee had narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election but later led the effort to impeach him.
Lee, leader of South Korea’s liberal Democratic Party, was elected president in June 2025.
Lee Jae Myung’s First U.S. Visit
Lee’s trip to Washington is his first since becoming president. He arrived Sunday, met with Korean-American community leaders, and will return to Seoul on Tuesday.
Before traveling to the U.S., Lee visited Tokyo for his first bilateral summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. It was seen as a symbolic step to strengthen ties between Seoul and Tokyo ahead of difficult negotiations with Washington.
Trade Issues on the Table
The Trump-Lee meeting was originally expected to focus on finalizing details of a July trade agreement. Under that deal, South Korea agreed to invest heavily in U.S. industries while accepting a 15% tariff rate on exports. Trump had previously threatened to impose tariffs as high as 25% on South Korean goods. He said the agreement would ensure the U.S. was “completely open to trade” with Seoul.
South Korea exports large numbers of automobiles to the U.S. and maintains one of the highest trade surpluses with Washington among U.S. allies. Trump has repeatedly said he wants to eliminate such imbalances.
Potential Defense Concerns
Another area likely to be discussed is the presence of U.S. troops in South Korea. Seoul is concerned that the Trump administration may push for higher payments from South Korea in exchange for the continued American military presence. The two countries also plan to explore cooperation in semiconductors, batteries, and shipbuilding—industries both sides see as critical to national security and economic growth.
Lee’s Political Background
Lee Jae Myung has long been a polarizing figure in South Korean politics. Once a child laborer who suffered an arm injury in a factory, he rose to prominence as a reformist and critic of the conservative establishment.
He survived an assassination attempt in January 2024, when a man stabbed him in the neck during a campaign event. The attacker later said he intended to kill him. Despite such challenges, Lee went on to win the presidency on his third attempt, taking office after Yoon’s removal.
Looking Ahead
The outcome of Lee’s first White House visit remains unclear following Trump’s remarks about instability in South Korea. Analysts say the meeting will test whether the U.S. and South Korea can move past political tension to secure agreements on trade, defense, and regional cooperation.
Lee’s symbolic outreach to Japan ahead of his U.S. trip suggests he is preparing to balance ties among key allies while navigating a more unpredictable relationship with Washington.
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