Today, Jess, Les, and Bishop unpack South Korean President Lee’s first visit to Washington and his meeting with President Trump. The two leaders struck a warm rapport, with Trump raising ideas about engagement with North Korea and Lee casting Trump as potential peacemaker on the peninsula. But as Seoul works to balance relations with both Washington and Beijing, Trump’s out-of-the-box, business-style approach may add unpredictability to one of the world’s most sensitive regions.

Will Trump’s style strengthen—or strain—the U.S.–South Korea alliance? Can engagement with Kim Jong Un move forward without a real strategy? Does Trump’s deal-making style translate into real policy, or just make for good headlines?

Check out these stories that helped shape our Fellows’ discussion: 

https://apnews.com/video/trump-repeatedly-touts-great-relationship-with-north-korean-leader-kim-jong-un-da5084139a49459cb61f6dbe5567b13a 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/08/25/trump-south-korea-president-visit/ 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy5pdlgl64zo 

@NotTVJessJones

@LesterMunson

@BishopGarrison

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