Fact check: Did Donald trump praise Kim jong un?

1. How Kim’s Words Were Reported: Warmth, Not a Policy Shift

News accounts consistently quote Kim as saying he has “fond” or “good” memories” of former U.S. President Donald Trump and that he remains open to talks if Washington drops denuclearization demands; those exact formulations appear across multiple reports on September 22–23, 2025. The coverage frames Kim’s wording as personal warmth toward Trump but underscores that Kim simultaneously insisted North Korea will never surrender its nuclear arsenal. This pairing of praise and a hard bargaining position is central to understanding the remarks as strategic signaling, not a reciprocal policy concession ^{[1] [5] [3]}.

2. Did Trump Praise Kim? Evidence Is Limited and Contextual

Contemporaneous reporting does not produce clear recent statements in which Donald Trump directly praised Kim Jong Un during the September 2025 episode; rather, the available pieces document Kim praising Trump’s memory of their meetings and some outside observers noting mutual trust. One outlet does reference past positive comments between them, but the highlighted, newsworthy comments in late September stem primarily from Kim’s statements, not a new Trump endorsement. Thus the factual record for “Did Trump praise Kim?” in this timeframe is weak: Kim praised Trump; direct recent praise from Trump is not documented in these reports ^{[6] [7]}.

3. What Each Side Gains: Diplomatic Leverage and Domestic Optics

Kim’s expression of fondness functions as diplomatic leverage: it offers an opening for future dialogue while making a public demand that the U.S. drop denuclearization as a precondition. That message allows Pyongyang to claim agency and toughness simultaneously. For Trump — if he were to reciprocate with praise — the political upside would be enhanced negotiation credibility with a foreign leader and domestic optics of deal-making. Reporters emphasize that both leaders have previously used personal rapport to pursue strategic goals, so such praise should be read as tactical rather than purely relational ^{[2] [8]}.

4. Divergent Media Framings and Possible Agendas

Coverage varies: some outlets emphasize Kim’s flattering language, portraying it as admiration or a sign of thaw; others foreground Kim’s insistence on retaining nukes and label his remarks as transactional. Political framings reflect editorial perspectives: pieces highlighting personal warmth may implicitly question U.S. policy rigidity, while security-focused outlets highlight the nuclear standoff. These framing differences suggest agendas—either normalizing engagement or warning against it—so readers should weigh both the quoted text and the strategic context when interpreting the apparent praise ^{[9] [4]}.

5. Historical Context: Three Trump-Kim Summits and Personal Diplomacy

The September 2025 comments fit into a sequence of prior personal diplomacy: Trump and Kim met three times during Trump’s earlier term, creating a documented history of personalized summitry that both leaders have referenced. That history explains why expressions like “fond memories” carry political weight; they recall earlier negotiations and public signaling. Historical precedent shows personal rapport can open channels but has not produced verifiable, lasting denuclearization outcomes, which makes contemporary praise or warmth a continuation of a familiar pattern, not a new breakthrough ^{[2] [4]}.

6. What Is Missing from the Reports: Direct Quotes and U.S. Reaction

Notably absent from these reports are extensive direct quotes from U.S. officials responding to Kim’s remarks, or any immediate reciprocal praise from Trump recorded on the same dates. The coverage therefore leaves out two important elements: a detailed U.S. policy response and any contemporaneous Trump statement offering praise or rebuttal. That omission matters because a unilateral statement of fondness has different diplomatic implications than a bilateral exchange of praise, and the reporting dates suggest reactions may still be developing ^{[5] [3]}.

7. Bottom Line: Yes, Kim Praised Trump — But the Story Is More Complex

The factual finding is clear: Kim Jong Un expressed fondness for Donald Trump in late September 2025, and multiple outlets reported those remarks as praise or warmth. However, available reporting does not substantiate a parallel, new public praise of Kim by Trump at that time, and Kim’s comments were paired with uncompromising demands on nuclear policy. Readers should therefore view the interaction as strategic signaling within a fraught diplomatic standoff, not as a simple mutual endorsement or a policy breakthrough ^{[1] [8] [7]}.