Donald Trump reacts to South Korea's refusal of support

Speaking after a press conference held at the White House, President Donald Trump criticized South Korea for not being receptive to U.S. demands concerning Iran. Trump stated that his country has protected South Korea for years against the North Korean threat with heavy military spending, but that he did not find the reciprocity he expected in return.

Recounting a recent phone call with the South Korean leader, Trump stated that he had requested support from the Seoul administration for a potential military operation against Iran, but received a negative response. "I said, wait a minute. We have 29,000 troops there to protect you from your neighbor Kim Jong-un, but you won't help us in a very easy military operation in Iran? That's very strange," Trump said, openly expressing that he was surprised and saddened by this answer.

Regarding NATO, Trump reminded that the U.S. spends hundreds of billions of dollars to protect Europe against Russia, stating that countries must share the burden. At this point, he argued that South Korea also does not sufficiently appreciate the value of American military support.

Touching upon his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Trump emphasized the communication between the two leaders, saying, "I understand him, and he understands me. He doesn't like many people; he didn't like Biden or Obama, but he has a good relationship with me."

Trump also announced that during his presidency, the threat posed by North Korea to South Korea had decreased, and as a result, he had ordered a significant reduction in joint military exercises with South Korea. He stated that this decision was made both due to high costs and the good relationship established with Kim Jong-un.

This outburst by U.S. President Trump is considered noteworthy, particularly in the context of military balances in Asia and America's global security spending.