Lee advised to brace for Trump's unpredictability at White House summit

U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he waits to greet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House in Washington, Monday (local time). UPI-Yonhap

A summit with U.S. President Donald Trump can be tense, not only because of complex policy negotiations but also due to his unpredictable style of diplomacy.

Foreign leaders arriving at the White House often find themselves unsettled, as Trump’s unscripted remarks can produce awkward, sometimes jarring, moments.

President Lee Jae Myung may be bracing for a similar situation when he travels to Washington for his first summit with Trump next Monday (local time).

For Lee, the stakes could hardly be higher.

His government is trying to steer through an unsettled security order in Asia, where North Korea’s belligerence, China’s growing assertiveness and Washington’s wavering commitments have unsettled allies. How he manages the mercurial Trump will be seen as a measure of Seoul’s ability to safeguard its most vital partnership — the alliance with the United States.

Analysts caution that Lee, a former provincial governor and lawmaker with limited diplomatic experience, will need to remain composed if Trump makes volatile remarks or misstates facts about Korea.

"The best approach for Lee is to stay calm and measured, rather than respond immediately if Trump says something unexpected or inaccurate about Korea," said Doo Jin-ho, a researcher at the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy.

"After all, this is their first meeting, and the focus is on sealing the tariff deal. It would be wise to leave a positive impression of the Lee government for future follow-up discussions."

Trump has previously made some exaggerated claims about Korea. In October 2024, he said that 40,000 U.S. troops were stationed there, though the actual number is 28,500. He has also described Korea as a "money machine," pressing the country to pay more for the stationing of American troops.

A local diplomatic observer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Lee should prioritize defending national interests at the summit and avoid relying too much on flattery.

"Friendly remarks can help build rapport, but Trump is ultimately a businessman with a transactional approach to everything. Lee should show he can stand his ground when needed," the analyst said. "It would also be advisable for the president to consult his foreign policy advisers for guidance, given his limited experience in bilateral talks."

Several recent bilateral summits in the Oval Office have been dramatic. At a February meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump engaged in a heated on-camera exchange over what he saw as insufficient gratitude for U.S. support against Russian aggression, at times drowning out Zelenskyy's responses.

U.S. President Donald Trump, right, shows printouts of what he claimed were reports about attacks on white farmers in South Africa during a summit with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House, May 21 (local time). AP-Yonhap

In May, during a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Trump repeated claims of a "white genocide" in South Africa and showed videos and photos he said supported the allegation. It was later found out that the videos were filmed not in South Africa but in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Korean leaders also faced awkward moments with Trump during his first term. In May 2018, during a bilateral summit at the White House, then-President Moon Jae-in spent 25 minutes sitting quietly while Trump fielded U.S. journalist questions on domestic affairs.

Some experts say Lee might not encounter the same aggressive tactics seen in Zelenskyy and Ramaphosa's meetings with Trump.

"Trump came in looking for a fight in both instances, which is not the case with Korea," said Sean King, a U.S. expert on Asian affairs and vice president at New York-based consulting firm Park Strategies.

"Trump has never said a bad personal word about President Lee and gave Korea a less disadvantageous trade deal than he did with Japan ... Whatever technical, working differences may happen behind the scenes, my sense is that the two leaders’ public rapport will be good."

Building rapport with Trump outside formal negotiations may also be crucial for Lee.

During their first phone call in June, the two leaders discussed their golfing skills and agreed to play a round whenever possible.

The Korean president reportedly practiced golf during his summer vacation in early August in preparation for potential outings with Trump, an avid golfer. But sources say that Lee's upcoming Washington visit will not include golfing.

Korean officials are reportedly considering presenting a model of a "geobukseon," or turtle-shaped armored warship used against Japanese invasions during the 1590s, as a gift to Trump.

The gift appears to be intended at highlighting the two nations' shipbuilding cooperation project, dubbed "Make American Shipbuilding Great Again," which reportedly played a critical role in reaching a breakthrough in the tariff deal.