Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFPGetty Images
President Trump insisted Friday that he is "not going to be played" ahead of his planned peace talks with North Korea's Kim Jong-un, adding that past presidents have been "played like a fiddle" by the regime.
Context: Trump's comments, made during a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the White House, come hours after Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in issued a joint statement calling for an end to the Korean war and denuclearization of the region.
Keep in mind: Apparent breakthroughs and attempts at denuclearization in previous conversations with North Korea have failed.
What else Trump said:
- If talks fall apart with North Korea: “We will, I think, come up with a solution, and if we don’t, with great respect, we leave the room and we keep going." Trump has said as much before.
- He thanked China for getting progress rolling on North Korea.
- On the House Intelligence Committee's Russia report: "I was very honored by the report. It was totally conclusive ... no collusion."
- Iran nuclear deal: Trump said he and Merkel will discuss Iran during today's talks.