7 Complimentary Things Trump Said About Kim

'Great personality and very smart'
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 12, 2018 8:41 AM CDT
7 Complimentary Things Trump Said About Kim
President Trump shakes hands with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un at the Capella resort on Sentosa Island Tuesday, June 12, 2018 in Singapore.   (Kevin Lim/The Straits Times via AP)

President Trump said ahead of his summit with Kim Jong Un that he'd be able to size up his fellow world leader in a matter of minutes. Trump apparently liked what he saw, based on his comments to various news outlets after the fact. Here's a sample of his compliments about the man he once ridiculed as "rocket man":

  • Negotiator: "Great personality and very smart," Trump said of Kim. "Good combination. He’s a worthy negotiator. He’s negotiating on behalf of his people, a very worthy, very smart negotiator, absolutely." See the Financial Times.
  • Talented: "I learned that he’s a very talented man," said Trump. "I also learned that he loves his country very much." See Time.

  • Talented, part II: "Well he is very talented," said Trump. "Anybody who takes over a situation like he did at 26 years of age and is able to run it, and run it tough—I don't say 'he was nice.'" See CNBC.
  • Leadership: "I don't think they have ever had the confidence in a president they have right now for getting things done and ability to get things done," Trump said, referring to North Koreans. See CNN.
  • Trust: "I do trust him, yeah," Trump tells George Stephanopoulos of ABC News. Referring to his previous view of Kim: "Over my lifetime I've done a lot of deals with a lot of people and sometimes the people you most distrust turn out to be the most honorable ones."
  • Future invite: Asked whether he would invite Kim to the White House, Trump replied, "Absolutely I will," adding, "That will be a day that I very much look forward to at the appropriate time." See the Hill.
  • A bond: "We both want to do something. We both are going to do something. And we have developed a very special bond." See Real Clear Politics.
(More President Trump stories.)

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