Trump Historical Visit To South Korea Sparks Reactions From 2020 Candidates, Others

Trump has become the first sitting US President to step into North Korea. He met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the demilitarized zone (DMZ), and the two leaders held a private bilateral meeting before Kim returned to North Korea.

CNN reports that the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun held secret discussions on Saturday morning at the DMZ to set up the meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean president Kim Jong Un. 

After President Donald Trump took 20 unprecedented steps into North Korea Sunday, reaction quickly poured in from 2020 Democratic hopefuls on the campaign trail. 

Here’s what some of the candidates are saying: 

Sen. Bernie Sanders said he has “no problem” with Trump meeting with Kim Jong-un, but said the issue he took was with Trump’s “incredible inconsistencies.”

“I don’t want it simply to be a photo opportunity, the whole world’s media was attracted there,” Sanders said on ABC’s “This Week.”

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union,” said diplomacy is not as easy as bringing a hot dish over the fence to the dictator next store; there needs to be a clear focus and a clear mission and clear goals. 

“I don’t think we know it works until there is results,” Klobuchar told CNN’s Brianna Keilar. 

The Joe Biden campaign put out a statement, slamming Trump for his relationship with dictators. 

“President Trump’s coddling of dictators at the expense of American national security and interests is one of the most dangerous ways he’s diminishing us on the world stage and subverting our values as a nation. This past week he yet again fawned over Kim Jong-un — to whom he’s made numerous concessions for negligible gain — joked with Vladimir Putin about our election security and ‘getting rid’ of journalists, and even expressed sympathy for Turkey buying Russian missiles,” the former vice president’s spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement. “His conduct reinforces that we urgently need a president who can restore our standing in the world, heal relationships with key allies Trump has alienated, and deliver real change for the American people.”  

Sen. Elizabeth Warren tweeted, “Our President shouldn’t be squandering American influence on photo ops and exchanging love letters with a ruthless dictator. Instead, we should be dealing with North Korea through principled diplomacy that promotes US security, defends our allies, and upholds human rights.”

Reacting to Trump visit to North Korea, Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper disputed President Donald Trump’s claim that President Barack Obama wanted to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Clapper, appearing Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” said that Trump stepping into North Korea is a “great historic moment” but said he personally does not believe the North Koreans have long-term any intent to denuclearize. 

“I think it’s a great historic moment … and it’s the first time a sitting president ever set foot in North Korea,” Clapper, now a CNN national security analyst, told CNN’s Brianna Keilar when asked if it was a breakthrough moment in US-North Korea relations. “I think when it comes to the hard business of negotiating here, I think that’s another story. I personally don’t believe the North Koreans have long term any intent to denuclearize.” 

Clapper questioned why North Korea would denuclearize. 

“Why should they,” he said. “It’s their ticket to survival.” 

Clapper looked puzzled after watching a clip of Trump saying that the Obama administration begged for a meeting with Kim. 

“In all the deliberations that I participated in on North Korea during the Obama administration, I can recall no instance whatever where President Obama ever indicated any interest whatsoever in meeting with Chairman Kim. I just — that’s news to me.” 

Pope Francis in his reaction praised the meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Sunday saying, “in the last hours, we have assisted in Korea a good example of a culture of dialogue.” 

He added that the meeting “constitutes a step further in the walk of peace. Not only on that peninsula but in the entire world.”

The remarks were made at the conclusion of the weekly Sunday Angelus Prayer held in St Peter’s Square in Rome.

Donald Trump in a tweet during his journey back to America, described his visit as “great honor” standing on North Korea soil. 

He said it was a “great honor” to stand “on the soil of North Korea,” which he described as “an important statement for all.”

Leaving South Korea after a wonderful meeting with Chairman Kim Jong Un. Stood on the soil of North Korea, an important statement for all, and a great honor!