Trump Hosts South Korea’s Lee to Discuss Trade, Defense/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Eition/ President Donald Trump hosted South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the White House to discuss trade and defense. The leaders aimed to solidify a recent trade agreement and review defense cost-sharing. Lee’s visit follows key diplomatic gestures toward Japan and comes amid complex regional dynamics.
Trump-Lee Jae Myung Meeting: Trade and Defense Quick Looks
- President Trump meets South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung in Washington.
- Discussions center on a recent trade deal and defense cooperation.
- July’s agreement imposed a 15% tariff on South Korean exports.
- Seoul committed to investing hundreds of billions in the U.S.
- Trump emphasized access for U.S. cars and agricultural goods.
- Talks may include U.S. troop presence and cost-sharing in Korea.
- Lee recently met Japan’s PM to show regional unity.
- He is the first South Korean president to prioritize Tokyo diplomatically.
- Lee survived an assassination attempt and political upheaval to win the presidency.
- He replaces conservative Yoon Suk Yeol, ousted after imposing martial law.
- Lee addressed Korean-American leaders during a dinner in Washington.
Trump Hosts South Korea’s Lee to Discuss Trade, Defense
Deep Look
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump welcomed South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to the White House on Monday, where the two leaders held talks focused on trade and defense cooperation amid shifting regional alliances and growing geopolitical uncertainty.
The visit marks the first in-person meeting between the newly elected South Korean president and Trump, who previously announced a major trade agreement with Seoul in July. Under the deal, South Korean exports to the United States—such as automobiles and industrial goods—would face a 15% tariff, down from the 25% Trump had initially threatened. In exchange, South Korea pledged to invest hundreds of billions of dollars into the U.S. economy.
Trump had praised the deal as a win for American businesses, declaring that South Korea would be “completely open to trade” with the U.S. and would allow increased access to key sectors like agriculture and automobiles—areas that have long been flashpoints in trade relations between the two allies.
South Korea’s automotive industry, which leads its exports to the U.S., has been under particular scrutiny from Trump, who has criticized America’s trade deficits with many of its allies. Seoul’s surplus is one of the largest among U.S. partners, placing it in Trump’s crosshairs as he seeks to rebalance trade.
In a statement ahead of the meeting, Lee’s office confirmed that the summit would also touch on joint development in strategic industries including semiconductors, shipbuilding, and batteries—sectors where both nations have overlapping interests and shared security concerns.
On defense, a critical issue likely to be addressed is the future of the U.S. military presence in South Korea. With over 28,000 American troops stationed on the peninsula, previous Trump administrations have pressed Seoul for greater financial contributions to maintain the U.S. presence. South Korea has historically balked at large increases in payment, and Lee is expected to push for maintaining the status quo or renegotiating any increases.
Lee’s arrival in Washington follows a highly symbolic visit to Tokyo—his first bilateral trip since taking office in June. The meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was widely interpreted as an effort to demonstrate unity in the face of regional tensions, particularly amid the unpredictability of the Trump administration’s foreign policy. Lee became the first South Korean leader to make Japan the destination of his first international summit since the two countries normalized relations in 1965.
Lee’s rise to power is itself notable. A former child laborer who suffered an arm injury in his youth, he climbed the ranks of the liberal Democratic Party over multiple election cycles, eventually capturing the presidency after the dramatic downfall of his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon was removed from office following his brief and controversial imposition of martial law in December 2024, a move that shocked domestic and international observers and led to widespread public outrage.
Lee’s presidency began amid national healing, but early 2024 brought another crisis—an assassination attempt during a campaign event. Lee was stabbed in the neck by a man posing as a supporter. He survived the attack, and the suspect later admitted to intending to kill the politician. The incident only heightened public sympathy and solidified Lee’s political standing.
During his U.S. visit, Lee has sought to reaffirm the alliance between Washington and Seoul. On Sunday, he attended a dinner event with over 200 Korean-Americans in downtown Washington, where he emphasized his administration’s goals of economic revitalization and international cooperation. He is scheduled to depart the United States on Tuesday.
The Trump-Lee meeting is expected to provide further clarity on economic and security ties as both nations navigate complex dynamics involving China, North Korea, and a rapidly evolving global trade environment.
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