Recapping President Donald Trump’s meeting with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un
President. Trump unfiltered. From Singapore, to the White House he is as ever combative. I'm Robert, Costa how. The Trump doctrine is rattling, international. Order and an FBI report quickly, becomes, a political flashpoint. Tonight. On Washington, week we. Haven't, given up anything I think the meeting was every, bit as good for the United States as it was for North. Korea after a history-making, handshake. And signed, agreement. President, Trump declares, North Korea, is no longer a nuclear, threat but. Some, in his own party remains skeptical, this is the beginning I think of a long long. Process there. Are bipartisan. Concerns, about the president's, decision to suspend. Joint. Military exercises. With South Korea, I think. The exercises, are important I'd like to see them continue mr.. Trump is now looking to host a similar one-on-one. Summit with Russian, President Vladimir Putin, plus, the, Justice, Department, inspector general delivers, its report, about. The FBI's, investigation. Into, Hillary Clinton's, emails and president. Trump's former campaign, chairman, is headed. To jail we, discuss, it all with, mark Landler, of the New York Times and garen, of The Washington Post, Susan. Glasser of The New Yorker, and Jeff. Zeleny, of CNN. This. Is Washington. Week. Once. Again from, Washington, moderator, Robert, Kosta. Good. Evening the, long history, of American, diplomacy has, featured, many turbulent. Chapters, but. Long-standing, US, allies, have rarely faced such, blunt, challenges. Over, trade as they, did at the g7 meeting in recent, days and u.s., presidents, have rarely directly. Engaged dictators, like North Korea's, Kim jong-un as President, Trump did this week in Singapore. During. The landmark meeting both sides discussed, North, Korea's, nuclear weapons, program and security. Assurances, for Kim jong-un, but, they did not address human rights concerns about, the Kim regime North. Korea's, ballistic missile. Or, the missile defense system, the US helped, install in South Korea the, sign joint statement, calling for a nuclear-free, North, Korean Peninsula, is non-binding, and lacks, a time line or any concrete, commitments, from North Korea, about how, it would dismantle, its nuclear arsenal, or terms, for verification.
Speaking. Friday President, Trump said we, now have a very good relationship, with North Korea when I came into this job it looked like war not because of me but because if you remember the sit-down with Barack Obama I think he will admit this he, said the biggest problem that the United States has and by far the, most dangerous problem, and he said to me that we've ever had because. Of nuclear his. North Korea now that was shortly, before I entered office I have. Solved that problem. Mark. When you think about the handshake, it was a historic, moment but, there's also the meaning of the handshake in terms of policy and the president's put, wargames, and removing, them from the South Korean area, off on the table now with the North Korean leader, what does that mean for the region for China and they want to see the u.s. have a smaller footprint, well, the, war games and that's the term President Trump used and it's in itself a loaded term because it's really these are joint military exercises. The, North Koreans often refer to them as war games to give them a more kind. Of provocative. Aggressive. Sort, of nature but, by putting them on the table the message I think he's sending, is that the, alliance, between the u.s. and South Korea, is. In play to a certain extent he's willing to make a concession, on something the South Koreans, view as a real, centerpiece, of the u.s. south korean alliance and it's, not just a south korean issue the, japanese, will look at this and say how, committed is the u.s. to Japan and, its alliance in the long run president, Trump has also talked about in the long run withdrawing, American, troops from the Korean Peninsula, so all of these things that our allies, in East Asia took for granted for. Decades, are now, in play as a result of this diplomatic, overture, what are some other concessions, that could be on the table well, to continue on on Mark's. Theme this is also something that China has has, wanted China's. Diplomatic. Play on, North Korea for, some time which the u.s. used to reject out of hand was, what they called a freeze for freeze the US would no longer hold what China considers, to be provocative. Exercises. In its backyard and, waters that China wants to consider, it. As as part of its. You. Know we call it international waters. And say that the, Chinese. Are overstepping, they, say we're overstepping, but. That we would no longer do, those exercises, and. In exchange for a. Freeze, on the. Chinese part. On sanctions, and so, essentially, what Trump did was to give. The. Chinese, the part that they have, been seeking from us in in stopping, these. Exercises. Which is not to say that that. Isn't a. Prelude. To potential.
Concessions. From North, Korea but we don't know that part yet what we know is that he offered to give up something that the Chinese, and. The North Koreans have been wanting him to give up for a while where was South Korea at this summit well, not there but certainly played a huge role in. Making it happen, in fact without president, than jaian of South Korea the summit would not have happened what, I was struck by sitting, in Singapore, was how quick it came together three, months and three. Days after the president first walked into the briefing room on March 8th and said, I have an announcement coming up tonight, stay tuned like, what's it on mr. president I just happened to be in the briefing room and he said you know the. He's, accepting this invitation so. That, was an invitation that South Korea brought so South Korea was central, to this but they were not at the summit. And in fact were surprised, and caught off guard by, the, fact that these joint military exercises. Were called off and, it's marks that I think something was extraordinary this week I do not think the White House anticipated. Talking to people afterward, that a, joint, headline, was going to be you, know the president travels to Singapore and makes a concession, you know that is going to anger the Pentagon, caused, concern of Republicans, on Capitol Hill they, did nothing to pave the way for, calling. Off these joint exercises, it. Seemed to me it was a last-minute thing and using the word wargames, I'm not sure the president knew that he was using a piane. Gangs, of language but he certainly was said anger the Pentagon but Susan is that true is there a divide in this administration secretary. Mattis at the Pentagon has been somewhat. Quiet in this whole process it's been really Secretary, of State Pompeo who's out front well so Secretary, of State Pompeo has taken the lead in preparing, the summit and working, with President Trump according. To some of the reporting, no, easy task when it comes to pulling off this summit, in this short amount of time secretary. Mattis however made an extraordinary, and I think almost overlooked, speech today at, the Naval War College, he made some tough comments, about Russia, which seemed very out of step with president. Trump's more favorable. View, of Lattimer Putin but interestingly he, also made a comment, about North, Korea and the seal and he said it's, a possible, path toward peace now with, North Korea now that. Is a wildly, different. Characterization. Of the outcomes, of this summit than the president's, grandiose. Words that that we already saw tonight, in this program saying that he solved, the nuclear issue once and for all now there's, there's nothing whatsoever to suggest in the actual outcome, of the, summit or this very short very vaguely worded four, bullet point communique. That they issued as a at. The end of the summit. There's. Nothing in there that says the nuclear program. Is resolved, there's it's. Much, more. Vaguely worded than, previous, commitments, that North Korea has agreed to in negotiations, with the United States and other countries previous. Commitments that of course north Korea has actually, reneged, on in the past so you. Know again there's this enormous, gap, between the president's. Outsize. Claims, for. What he's achieved in, the, North Korea summit and there. Is this this huge rift within. His own government in any other administration. We would be talking about that as the big story but didn't. Kim commit, to denuclearization, or, is it more complicated. Than that Kim, committed, in principle. To denuclearizing. But, North Korea is committed to doing that several. Times in the past as far back as 1992. I think it's 12 and, that's, right so it's it's this is a common, thing that North Koreans have put this on the table and they've never defined, exactly they never defined, it and so, the timetable, for doing it how you verify, it and. The modalities, of how you do it are all basically. The substance, of what negotiations. Are about, that's what the Clinton administration, spent years negotiating, and it's what the Bush administration, also. Spent years negotiating. Unsuccessfully. In both cases so, a vague, kind. Of aspiration. To denuclearizing. Gets, you basically, to, the starting line it doesn't get you any further than that and the criticism, is president Trump extracted. That in return for all the prestige, and, validation. And legitimation, that, he gave to Kim by doing what is the prestigious Dean for Kim back in North Korea where his power is always under threat what what does it mean when he sees these videos. Provided, by the administration about hotels in Pyongyang, it means everything, and I think the flattery, we've seen on previous. Examples. Of the president traveling around the world other, world leaders have flattered him the president, was flattering, kim jong hoon he's half, his age 34 years old the President as we know turns 72 this week calling, him a you know a terrific, negotiator, a master, negotiator strong, man and I was so.
Struck. By all that but one thing we were all briefed by the secretary of state in Singapore. And. Secretary. Pompeo said repeatedly verified. Verified, verified that word was not in the statement at all so I think the cleanup now and the details, here, obviously, are going to be left to the second, thing. When you think about what he's talking about it but the Secretary, of State, is gonna be left to actually, do. It and you. Know it's much harder time the president keeps building in his own world order his known new doctrine, you think about Susan. Reported, today that he's looking to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin after saying he would like to see Russia join the g8 well, that's right so first of all obviously we all know, that, President, Trump has this longstanding. Fascination. With Vladimir Putin he's, consistently, the only person who. Present. Trump is not criticized, on. The world stage aside, from that one minor, tweet after the the Syrian chemical weapons incident. Trump. Has had it in his head as I reported you know this morning ever since March when the famous do not congratulate, phone. Call after. President. One reelection. And, of course President Trump did, congratulate, him and he also invited, him to the Oval Office nobody. Really took that seriously, I think because they thought that's insane right in, the politics. Of this in the middle of the Special Counsel investigation, with. All the questions about, Trump. And Russia why, would he do this and yet in fact they. Have been negotiating. Over this it looks like it's, possible, as soon as in July, President. Trump and President Putin could meet yeah they could attach it to the NATO. Meeting but. I mean actually Trump answered that question today he he. Said that that, talking, to Putin, including. Putin, in, in, things like the g7, formerly the g8 he'd like to make it the g8 again is the same as talking. To North Korea that and and, it. Gave it gave a window into. What. Trump's. Version, of diplomacy. Is and the Trump World Order which is very personal very direct, he thinks he can make a difference by, having a personal relationship, with. With, dictators. With leaders whoever, they may be and he. Is willing to set aside any. Number, of concerns, that the United States raises, in other in, other forums, in order to have that personal relationship because, he thinks he can get business done and that's exactly what he said he wanted to do that's nothing at the g7 there's, only a week ago while attacking are attacking. Allies, on trade he's, taking on meat. Longtime, US allies, now, he says it's a transactional. Relationship that, matters the economic, relationship that matters but this is so different from the history of u.s. foreign policy which just so often been about values well, you're. Right about that but the point I'd make to build on what Ann said is not only does Trump see the upside, in foreign policy in talking to our adversaries he. Sees our allies, almost, exclusively, in terms of downside our, allies, are Free Riders, freeloaders. They have locked us into deals that are against, our advantage, and I, think that if one, were to start to define a Trump worldview, its to really. Shred, the existing, alliances, and look for kind of a new form of relationships, around the NATO meetings, coming up soon should we expect him to make some moves on that front I mean in Brussels it is it's in about four, weeks or so sure. And I think some of these relationships and we've seen them go everything, seems so dramatic, and he had Emmanuel. Macron, here you know and they were best friends and then at the g7 that was blown up but tonight I noticed, shortly before we're going on the air he tweeted again blaming. All of the coverage from the g7 on the fake news media said you know there was no problem. There at all well that's simply not true so I'm not exactly sure why he's doing that but it's clearly a couple, days after, he reads. A lot of news coverage and he's had time to, watch a lot of commentary he's obsessed. And also often changes his view by what, he hears or sees so, I think he is actually a little bit worried about those. Fraught relationship it's, not just the newspapers that he's there were piling up in the Oval Office that he's reading it's Republican, comments, got his his position, untrimmed senator bob Corker of Tennessee Republican said.
This Week that the GOP s become cultish and how it's falling along the president on trade well, that's right and he said, that you know his fellow Republican. Senators were afraid to poke the bear and. To poke President, Trump there's, some evidence to suggest that that's true when, it comes to the, politics, of it here but I think actually that's part of why Trump maybe has misread, his, allies in attacking, them so hard I don't, think he realized a they're. Not they don't play politics the way that he does and they actually think. That the rhetoric of the President, of the United States matters. In a way that Trump I think is not used to being taken literally. Number, one number two I think. Trump may not, really fully understand, that the politics, in. Other countries in Canada, in Germany, in, France and in in many of the countries in East Asia as well. Present. Trump is wildly, unpopular there, there is an enormous, political, imperative. Actually, to these fellow, allies. And world leaders to stand up to Donald Trump these, countries, don't, like Donald Trump to smack around their leaders to insult the, Prime Minister of Canada when he's hosting, a major. Global, summit, the politics, are good, for Justin Trudeau to say you, know in a polite Canadian way like you know screw. You mr. president and I think, that Trump. Hasn't. Fully thought through what does it mean to be America, alone that's the word I keep hearing from allies. And people in Europe when I travelled there recently and, these, are not isolated issues, trade North Korea final, thought for this and is that you, have the president going after China on trade fifty billion in new tariffs as he's negotiating with North Korea right I mean it, absolutely. Simultaneously. The, Trump. Administration is, asking China, to, to, really kind of go on a limb here and continue, enforcing sanctions, against. North Korea and, and, presumably. Prod, North Korea. Along to, make. The deal that is outlined. In in that page and a half. Agreement. To keep talking and at, the same time he's slapping, you know up, to 50 billion tariffs, on up to fifty billion dollars.
Worth Of goods with, immediate, retaliation by, China it's, kind of it it yes. They're they're two different tracks but, they are happening, so close together it, and and they simply can't be separated politically, and they certainly can't be separated. You know if by, Xi, Jinping I mean he's gonna see both things made. An explicit connection, between the two he said at the summit part, of the reason that China may not be as cooperative on sanctions, is because he's been tough on them on trade so he's actually, put, these two things on the same track and that makes it very complicated for, him going forward on North Korea and trade exactly. Right talking about blurred lines let's, turn to the Russia probe today a federal judge ordered. Former Trump campaign Chairman Paul Manafort to, be jailed ahead, of his trial special. Counsel robert, muller accused, the 69, year old man of four and a russian associate, of contacting. Potential, witnesses, and asking. Them to lie to the jury, Manta, Ford is facing a number of federal charges including, money laundering illegal, lobbying. Conspiracy. And tax evasion President. Trump was asked about mana for today. Matta. Ford has nothing to do with our campaign, you, know Paul Manafort worked for me for a very short period of time he worked for Ronald Reagan he worked for Bob Dole he worked for John McCain or as firm debt he worked for many other Republicans, he, worked for me what for 49, days or, something the first short period of time he. Worked he was the campaign chairman, and, we know that we had a fact check that but more, importantly, if you look this manna for trial, now. These going into jail, Willie break, Willie cooperate, like so many others have with Mahler that's the central question here, in that I mean as the president has said so much about the special counsels investigation Bob, Mahler has been keeping his head down doing his work in the. Courtroom. But what he did today is majorly. Significant. I would not have said up to this point a mana fort would, break. Or cooperate and he may not but boy this certainly raises the stakes on all of that but I think just. A bit of perspective yes, it was 49 days but Bob as you know. Without. Paul Manafort Donald, Trump likely would not have become the nominee or would not have been as smooth, of a ride at the convention, Paul Manafort was in charge of those delegates he had a smooth upright there but this is an example of the president met all day on Thursday or most of the day with his lawyers talked to them a lot throughout the day it's, one of the reasons I think he has sort of unplugged a little bit in talking about all of this we saw him out on the North, Lawn of the White House said this morning you know answering, all these questions trying, to get his point of view and seizing, on that IG, report saying, he's implicated or he's, he's. Exonerated but, the man affort then we have to keep an eye on that this is as as. Serious. As it's been and we don't know if he'll flip or not and the president. President's. Chief lawyer Rudy, Giuliani today dangled, the idea of pardons, not directly, to man afford but dangled the idea in. A series of interviews well, that's kind of been the the, implication. The unspoken, thing that's hung in the air all, along the President himself is, is, widely thought of you know some of the other parts even he's made even in unrelated cases, in recent, weeks have been seen as kind of setting, a precedent in place for him to dangle pardons, that are for people that are directly involved, in this so that's the next sort of twist, toward to watch in this whole Mahler story and Susan we've got to make sure we turn to the other big news this week because the Justice Department, released, a sweeping, report about, the FBI's investigation, into Hillary Clinton's, private emails the, Inspector General found former FBI director James Comey made.
Mistakes, And should not have bypassed, his boss than, Attorney General Loretta Lynch and, how he made announcements about the Clinton investigation, the, IG report concluded, that while Comey, broke, with protocol, the FBI was, not motivated, by pull, tobias if they're the president was today saying he was exonerated these, are separate. Investigations. Well, that's exactly right and, i you know that in, in a, remarkable. Appearance, before, the press this this morning on a variety of topics, probably. The president's. Mischaracterization. Of this, inspector general's report was was one of the most consequential right and, indirectly, saying that it exonerates, him from something it doesn't even relate. To number, one number two, i've never ceased to marvel, at the. The ability. Of the president, and his defenders, to to, flip around the, subject when it comes to, FBI. Director, james comey and the 2016, election, an institutional. Argument not only that but you have to say to, the extent that Comey intervened. In the election it was pretty clearly on behalf of, Donald. Trump and not on behalf of Hillary. Clinton and you know it's. Almost this inversion, of reality. Any time the president talks about it that is that is fascinating number one but you know, rightly. Ani came out after, the report, used it as a pretext to say that the president, should now fire. The, special counsel robert. Muller who is not the subject of this report he used me anyway and this hope everything, in Washington, these days seems to be about perception, because you, look at some of these text messages from the FBI agents saying we'll end it talking, about the Trump campaign, Republicans. Have seized on that and they, say and the FBI IG, said that wasn't appropriate, conduct yeah. I mean well there's something in in the report for everyone and, and, Trump, is seizing on. Part. That, and Republicans. In, Congress are also seizing, on. On. Parts that that support, his narrative the president is also distorting, the narrative considerably. As a susan. Laid out but, there it I mean the report not, only says, that that, individual, agents, behaved, badly but, does, deliver a reprimand, to. Comey, that that he rejects, and the. Overarching. Conclusion. Of the report is that, the, FBI institutionally. Did, not act out of out of bias and if, you add all of those things up together it comes, out that every single thing the FBI did, and Comey did had.
The Effect whether intentional, or not of, hurting. Hillary Clinton and and helping Donald Trump but it does bring. Up all these questions about credibility of the Justice Department, different, investigations, but a lot of this is about the public war, not, necessarily, the details of everything the president has done a very skilled, job actually in in. Mixing. All of this up and certainly raising, you, know serious issues about the investigation. Here but, the. Reality, is Bob, Muller is going to do his own thing here, we'll. See what happens going down with the president, has a decision to make is he gonna sit down with them or not that's coming that's for next week will. He sit for an interview or not well TBD. Our, conversation, meanwhile will continue, on the Washington week extra will we will discuss Attorney, General Jeff Sessions and his decision, to separate, undocumented. Migrant, children from their parents you can find that later tonight at pbs.org, slash, washington week and, we want to send best wishes to, longtime cameraman, charlie vote who, will be retiring soon it's been great working with you and to all the dads out there happy. Father's Day I'm Robert Kosta have a wonderful weekend.
2018-06-18 12:43
