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South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and U.S. President Donald Trump share a laugh during a summit in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on August 25. / Source: AP, Yonhap

U.S. media outlets reported that the summit between South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on August 25 shifted from tension to warmth after Lee showered Trump with praise, paving the way for a closer relationship between the two leaders.

Trump had raised eyebrows hours before the meeting by posting on Truth Social that a “purge or revolution” seemed to be taking place in South Korea, referring to investigations by a special prosecutor. The remark fueled speculation that Lee might face an uncomfortable moment. Instead, the talks were described as friendly and productive.

AP highlighted that “Trump’s initial warning turned into a warm welcome after flattery from Lee,” noting that the South Korean leader complimented Trump on his Oval Office renovations, urged him to continue his peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula, and even joked about building a Trump Tower in North Korea. The agency said this underscored how many world leaders have chosen praise over confrontation when seeking favorable trade terms and U.S. security commitments.

Bloomberg pointed out the contrast between Trump’s morning comments questioning South Korea’s political stability and his afternoon remarks assuring Lee, “We are 100% with you.” The report said Lee’s explanation of the prosecutor’s raids prompted Trump to walk back his earlier stance, telling him he was convinced the reports of church raids were a “misunderstanding.” Bloomberg concluded this showed Lee’s efforts to win Trump’s favor paid off. Online outlet Axios also observed that Trump softened his tone on Korean instability after meeting Lee.

The Washington Post said the summit became “the most high-profile event” for Lee since taking office less than three months ago. While Trump repeated complaints about South Korea’s political turmoil, he shifted to congratulating Lee and saying he felt “very warmly” about Korea once the meeting began. According to the Post, Lee lightened the mood by praising Trump’s leadership and joking that a Trump Tower in Pyongyang would allow him and Kim Jong Un to play golf together — a remark that drew laughter from Trump.

Despite their ideological differences, the Post noted that both Trump and Lee share unusual parallels: surviving assassination attempts, overcoming criminal trials, and turning those experiences into political comebacks. The paper concluded the summit offered the two leaders a chance to build “rapport” in their first encounter.

After the meeting, Trump signed a proclamation and called Lee “a very good guy and a very good representative for Korea.”