South Korean President Lee Jae Myung joked his staff had been worried about a possible “Zelenskyy moment,” ahead of his meeting with Donald Trump — a reference to the tense encounter the US president, and vice president JD Vance, had with visiting Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February.
Lee, who took office in June, met Trump at the White House on Monday in their first meeting.
Ahead of the meeting, the US president wrote on Truth Social: “WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOUTH KOREA? Seems like a Purge or Revolution. We can’t have that and do business there. I am seeing the new President today at the White House.”
“Before I met President Trump today, he posted a very threatening message on Truth Social,” Lee said later at a Washington think tank, speaking through a translator.
He added, “Then he brought up the Korean government’s investigation of the previous administration and said he would look into the search and seizure of US bases. So my staff was worried we might face a Zelenskyy moment .” The remark drew laughter from the audience.
The South Korean leader said he, however, knew he would not face such a situation.
"That's because I had read President Trump's book, 'The Art of the Deal'. The meeting turned out beyond my expectations," he stated.
The meeting
Trump told his guest it was a “great honour” to be with him. “We’ve known each other and gotten along very well. It’s a great honour to be with you and congratulations on your election. That was a big one, and we’re with you 100 per cent,” he said.
This was after Lee heaped praise on the US president — complimenting the Oval Office’s décor, urging him to continue supporting the Korean peace efforts , and even floating the idea of a Trump Tower in North Korea.
“I heard that you recently redecorated the Oval Office, and I would like to say that it looks very bright and beautiful. It has the dignity of America, and it symbolizes the new future and prosperity of America,” he said through an interpreter.
Lee also backed Trump’s claim that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would not have advanced his country’s nuclear program had Trump remained in office.
Lee, who took office in June, met Trump at the White House on Monday in their first meeting.
Ahead of the meeting, the US president wrote on Truth Social: “WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOUTH KOREA? Seems like a Purge or Revolution. We can’t have that and do business there. I am seeing the new President today at the White House.”
“Before I met President Trump today, he posted a very threatening message on Truth Social,” Lee said later at a Washington think tank, speaking through a translator.
ZELENSKY MOMENT’ is now global slang for a terrible meeting
— RT (@RT_com) August 25, 2025
South Korea’s president says he avoided such a moment by reading ‘The Art of the Deal’ before meeting Trump pic.twitter.com/THfeG3oRpM
He added, “Then he brought up the Korean government’s investigation of the previous administration and said he would look into the search and seizure of US bases. So my staff was worried we might face a Zelenskyy moment .” The remark drew laughter from the audience.
The South Korean leader said he, however, knew he would not face such a situation.
"That's because I had read President Trump's book, 'The Art of the Deal'. The meeting turned out beyond my expectations," he stated.
The meeting
Trump told his guest it was a “great honour” to be with him. “We’ve known each other and gotten along very well. It’s a great honour to be with you and congratulations on your election. That was a big one, and we’re with you 100 per cent,” he said.
This was after Lee heaped praise on the US president — complimenting the Oval Office’s décor, urging him to continue supporting the Korean peace efforts , and even floating the idea of a Trump Tower in North Korea.
“I heard that you recently redecorated the Oval Office, and I would like to say that it looks very bright and beautiful. It has the dignity of America, and it symbolizes the new future and prosperity of America,” he said through an interpreter.
Lee also backed Trump’s claim that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would not have advanced his country’s nuclear program had Trump remained in office.
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