New book says Trump described S. Korea was "taking advantage" of U.S.
- 5 years ago
"트럼프, 韓이 美 벗겨먹는다 여겨…年 70조원 내야한다고 생각"
A blockbuster memoir on the first few years of U.S. President Donald Trump's time in office has been published by a speechwriter for Trump's former Secretary of Defense James Mattis.
Writing about the president's rhetoric describing South Korea,... the author said Trump accused Seoul of being a "major abuser,"... demanding the ally pay significantly more for U.S. troops deployed on the peninsula.
Kim Hyo-sun reports.
President Trump has reportedly called for Seoul to pay significantly more in defense costs ever since taking office in early 2017,... repeatedly explaining that South Korea is "taking advantage" of Washington in the area of defense.
This is according to former U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis’ speechwriter Guy Snodgrass who has published a new book titled, "Holding the Line: Inside Trump's Pentagon With Secretary Mattis."
The author states that during the Pentagon's first briefing to Trump in July 2017,... the U.S. president called Seou l"a major abuser,"... even noting it would be a better deal to have South Korea pay at least 60 billion U.S. dollars in defense costs annually.
This is 12 times the 5 billion dollars that Washington has reportedly brought up during the defense-sharing cost negotiation between the two allies.
According to the book,... Trump also called the previous Seoul-Washington free trade agreement "criminal" during a meeting at the Pentagon.
The remarks not only show Trump's impromptu style but also his fundamental attitude towards U.S. allies.
The author also recalls that Trump caught all his staff off guard when he announced that Seoul-Washington would put a halt to their joint military drills following his Singapore summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Snodgrass said there was no prior notice from the White House,... but did not elaborate whether Mattis was also not informed in advance.
The book also describes that no provocative words like "Little Rocket Man" were in the initial draft of President Trump's now infamous speech to the UN General Assembly in late 2017,... implying there were many last minute chances made to Trump's remarks. The book also contains other anecdotes from meetings with President Trump and key Cabinet members that the author witnessed.
Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.
A blockbuster memoir on the first few years of U.S. President Donald Trump's time in office has been published by a speechwriter for Trump's former Secretary of Defense James Mattis.
Writing about the president's rhetoric describing South Korea,... the author said Trump accused Seoul of being a "major abuser,"... demanding the ally pay significantly more for U.S. troops deployed on the peninsula.
Kim Hyo-sun reports.
President Trump has reportedly called for Seoul to pay significantly more in defense costs ever since taking office in early 2017,... repeatedly explaining that South Korea is "taking advantage" of Washington in the area of defense.
This is according to former U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis’ speechwriter Guy Snodgrass who has published a new book titled, "Holding the Line: Inside Trump's Pentagon With Secretary Mattis."
The author states that during the Pentagon's first briefing to Trump in July 2017,... the U.S. president called Seou l"a major abuser,"... even noting it would be a better deal to have South Korea pay at least 60 billion U.S. dollars in defense costs annually.
This is 12 times the 5 billion dollars that Washington has reportedly brought up during the defense-sharing cost negotiation between the two allies.
According to the book,... Trump also called the previous Seoul-Washington free trade agreement "criminal" during a meeting at the Pentagon.
The remarks not only show Trump's impromptu style but also his fundamental attitude towards U.S. allies.
The author also recalls that Trump caught all his staff off guard when he announced that Seoul-Washington would put a halt to their joint military drills following his Singapore summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Snodgrass said there was no prior notice from the White House,... but did not elaborate whether Mattis was also not informed in advance.
The book also describes that no provocative words like "Little Rocket Man" were in the initial draft of President Trump's now infamous speech to the UN General Assembly in late 2017,... implying there were many last minute chances made to Trump's remarks. The book also contains other anecdotes from meetings with President Trump and key Cabinet members that the author witnessed.
Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.