Twitter Reactions to US-North Korea Summit
President Donald Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to meet with a sitting North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, on Tuesday in Singapore. To cap the highly-anticipated event, the two men signed a short U.S.-North Korea agreement.
The document claims Trump and Kim had “a comprehensive in-depth and sincere exchange of opinions.”
The U.S. would “provide security guarantees” to North Korea, it said. And Kim “reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.” Kim made the same commitment after meeting with South Korean leader Moon Jae-in in April.
The agreement contains a general theme of forging good relations, peace and denuclearization, but lacks specifics. However, it does state that remains of military members who died in the Korean War will be repatriated.
More negotiations will follow, the document stated. In a press conference, Trump said Kim would visit the White House at the “appropriate time.”
Reactions on Twitter
The joint statement describes the summit as “an epochal event of great significance in overcoming decades of tensions and hostilities between the two countries.” On Twitter, some reacted with similar praise. Others disagreed.
Pastor Franklin Graham, son of the late evangelist Billy Graham, tweeted “this is just the beginning of a new chapter between NK and the U.S.” He said he would continue praying for wisdom for both leaders.
Thank you for praying. It seems the #SingaporeSummit went very well. This is just the beginning of a new chapter between NK & the U.S. My continued prayer is that God will give wisdom to both leaders. I’m thankful we have a @POTUS who was willing to take the risk.
— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) June 12, 2018
Johnnie Moore, an advocate for persecuted Christians around the world and a part of Trump’s evangelical advisory board, tweeted that there is “every reason in the world for optimism.”
Awakened in Washington to the sunrise of peace emerging on the global horizon.
More work to do but every reason in the world for optimism, for hope.
Bravo, Mr. President (@POTUS). pic.twitter.com/nLQ1AqG6Ge
— Rev. Johnnie Moore ن (@JohnnieM) June 12, 2018
Author and radio host Eric Metaxas didn’t pull any punches when describing Kim as “the monstrous head of a truly evil brainwashing cult.” But he still expressed hope for the future.
Kim Jong Un is the monstrous head of a truly evil brainwashing cult imagined only in some B-movie serials from the thirties and forties. His people are effectively lobotomized slaves. May this horror finally begin to end as a result of this summit. https://t.co/A5ippIUjKG
— Eric Metaxas (@ericmetaxas) June 12, 2018
Conservative author and speaker Erik Erickson indicated his disapproval of Trump’s conduct and the summit’s outcome, also taking a jab at perceived Republican hypocrisy. In particular, Erickson took issue with Trump’s post-summit statement that Kim’s “country does love him.”
https://twitter.com/EWErickson/status/1006409649799737344
Meanwhile, Sen. Marco Rubio commented on the hypocrisy of the left.
I too have concerns about how all this with #NorthKorea will turn out. But I don’t recall all the “experts” criticizing Obama when he met with a brutal dictator in #Cuba who also oversaw a police state & also killed & jailed his opponents. #DoubleStandard https://t.co/j5x6wPiMGb
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) June 12, 2018
Ari Fleischer, former White House Press Secretary for George W. Bush, doubted whether North Korea truly intends to get rid of its nuclear weapons.
This feels like the Agreed Framework of the 90s all over again. NK gave its word to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons. They never intended to keep their word. And then they broke it.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) June 12, 2018
Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro noted many of Trump’s post-summit comments, and said it was too early to tell if they would come to fruition.
Trump made a lot of promises about what Kim Jung Un will do. I haven't heard any of those promises from Kim, and they're not in the signed agreement. If those promises materialize, this was a masterstroke. If they don't, it was a full debacle. (/1)
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) June 12, 2018
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee wondered if critics would give Trump any credit at all for taking a “historic step.”
Yes, there remains much work to be done, but can even his harshest critics give @POTUS credit for a historic step? If not, then we will know the contempt toward @realDonaldTrump is stronger than hope for a better world. https://t.co/inV1fOdFRG
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) June 12, 2018