GYEONGJU, South Korea — President Donald Trump wrapped up a high-profile visit to South Korea on Wednesday, where he was met with opulence, ceremonial honors, and renewed diplomatic overtures as his administration continues to reshape longstanding global alliances through aggressive tariff policy.
Trump’s arrival set the tone immediately: a military band greeted him with “YMCA,” the Village People anthem frequently heard at his political rallies. Throughout the day, South Korean officials appeared eager to flatter the president’s well-known affinity for gold — from a custom gold-colored tie to a replica of an ancient golden crown presented as a state gift.
Trump also became the first American president to receive South Korea’s highest recognition, the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, awarded in gratitude for his efforts to maintain stability on the Korean Peninsula.
Trade Deal “Pretty Much Finalized”
During a working dinner with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Trump said a bilateral trade agreement was “pretty much finalized” and would be completed “very soon.” The president touted what he described as a “new era of trade that works for both sides,” pointing to U.S. GDP growth and rising investment.
South Korea, however, remains under intense pressure to increase economic commitments in the United States after steep tariffs sent ripples through its export-heavy economy.
Gift Diplomacy and Symbolism
South Korean officials leaned heavily into symbolism:
Gold-adorned desserts served on plates labeled “PEACE”
A replica of the Silla Kingdom’s royal crown
A menu nodding to Trump’s New York roots with Thousand Island dressing
Lee’s office said the presentation was meant to “celebrate a golden era of the Korea-U.S. alliance.”
Strategic Military Requests
In private discussions, President Lee again pushed for U.S. approval to import fuel for nuclear-powered submarines — a longstanding ambition intended to counter North Korean and Chinese naval capabilities. U.S. officials have resisted similar proposals for decades over proliferation concerns.
South Korea currently ranks fifth in global military spending and has vowed to invest more to “lessen the burden” on U.S. forces stationed in the region.
No Meeting With North Korea’s Kim Jong Un
Despite speculation that Trump might hold a last-minute summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the president said timing made such a meeting impossible. He signaled openness to future dialogue and praised his existing relationship with Pyongyang’s ruler.
“We’ll work very hard on this,” Trump assured, referencing the peninsula’s unresolved wartime status.
Xi Jinping Talks Loom
All eyes now turn to Trump’s scheduled Thursday meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan. The two leaders are expected to address:
Tariff escalation
Technology restrictions
Fentanyl trafficking
Broader geopolitical tensions
Trump suggested the meeting could stretch up to four hours, signaling the depth of unresolved issues.
Icy Exchange With Canada
Diplomatic temperatures were notably cooler toward America’s northern neighbor. During a group photo, Trump avoided engaging with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The tension follows Trump’s threat to increase tariffs on Canadian goods by 10% after accusing Ottawa of running a “fake” advertisement using Ronald Reagan’s old speech clips.
Protests and Pushback
Outside the summit venue, small but vocal groups protested Trump’s regional policies. Some held red “warning” cards and accused Washington of imposing tariffs that would “devastate” local economies.
Security around the city was tightened in advance of Trump’s arrival.
AWS Announces $5 Billion Investment
On the sidelines of the APEC summit, Amazon Web Services unveiled a new $5 billion investment in South Korea to build additional AI data centers. Seoul aims to become one of the world’s top three AI powers, even as recent outages spotlight the vulnerability of cloud-based infrastructure.
The Bigger Picture
Trump used his keynote remarks at the APEC CEO luncheon to highlight:
U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence
Falling inflation and mortgage rates
Reduced federal spending
New shipbuilding partnerships with South Korea
He defended tariffs as leverage to correct “decades of imbalance,” insisting critics have dwindled.
What Comes Next
Trump’s meeting with Xi Jinping could determine the direction of global markets heading into the winter. Analysts say the discussions will influence:
Semiconductor supply chains
Rare-earth resource access
Regional military budgets
Fentanyl distribution controls
For now, the president leaves South Korea with rare honors, symbolic gifts, and lingering questions — especially as tensions with Canada and domestic gridlock in Washington continue to simmer.