Trump Pulls Rug From Key Ally to Suck Up to Brutal Dictator

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U.S. President Donald Trump salutes after disembarking Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., August 16, 2026.https://thedailybeast-thedailybeast-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/XCAWU6RGIZGVNOHGDDFHVENUYY.JPG?auth=55994da013e2da3a576858228944efb26e94a65062099afd18fe31b1da49229f&smart=true&width=1279&height=720" />
Ken Cedeno / REUTERS

President Donald Trump has claimed he will “substantially reduce” imminent joint U.S. military drills with South Korea while bragging about his “very good relationship” with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.

The military drills between the U.S. and South Korea, as part of Ulchi Freedom Shield, were due to start on Monday and run until August 27.

The drills, which happen twice a year, were expected to involve around https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-us-conduct-military-drills-amid-evolving-north-korea-threats-2026-08-10/" rel="" target="_self" title="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-us-conduct-military-drills-amid-evolving-north-korea-threats-2026-08-10/">18,000 South Korean troops, alongside U.S. forces and personnel from 11 of the 18 member states of the United Nations Command.

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