The rift in relations between the US and South Korea surfaced after President Donald Trump recently directed the Pentagon to scale back joint military training with Seoul.
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump took aim at South Korea after the country declined to help the US in the war with Iran, questioning why Washington should spend billions of dollars to protect Seoul.
The growing rift between the US and South Korea emerged after Trump directed the Pentagon to scale back joint military training with Seoul.
Trump cited his good relationship with North Korea and South Korea’s refusal to assist the United States in the war against Iran.
Trump says he won’t be “stupid” and keep helping
During a sit-down interview with Fox News host Trey Gowdy on Sunday, August 30, President Trump questioned why the United States should “spend billions and billions of dollars helping” other countries, singling out South Korea.
During the interview, he also touted US operations against Iran and in the Strait of Hormuz while complaining that American allies had offered little assistance.
“We got very little help from other countries,” Trump said. “And we help other countries; we spend billions and billions of dollars helping NATO and other countries.”
Trump said the United States had personally asked South Korea to participate in the conflict, but Seoul declined.
“South Korea, as an example. We helped them, but when it came to helping us, I didn’t put on a heavy sell, but I just said, ‘Would you like to participate?’ and they all said, ‘No, thank you.’ And I said, ‘I’m going to remember that to myself.’”
“So you could say we are going to make a lot of money, because when they’re not willing to go for you, you just can’t be a stupid person and help them,” he said.
Trump ordered Pentagon to scale back military exercises
Nearly two weeks ago, President Trump directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to “substantially reduce” planned joint military exercises with South Korea.
At the time, Trump specifically cited Seoul’s refusal to join the United States in the conflict with Iran and pointed to his friendship with South Korea’s rival, North Korea, in a post on Truth Social.
Speaking to Gowdy, Trump again emphasized the scale of America’s military commitment to Seoul.
“They want our help. We have thousands and thousands — like, in South Korea, as an example, we have 40,000 soldiers over there. And I said, ‘Would you mind giving us a little hand with Iran, the Islamic Republic of Iran?’ And they say, ‘Well, we’d rather not.’ And I said, ‘OK, thank you very much. I appreciate it.’”