By John Q. Hosedrinker 
During his visit to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meetings, President Trump was presented with a golden crown, a gesture aimed at finalizing a $350 billion trade deal. This seems to have worked as Washington and Seoul reached a broad trade agreement. The focus of the trip shifted to Trump’s meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The South Korean leg of Trump’s Asia tour follows his visit to Japan where he signed a rare-earths deal and announced several important energy and technology projects in the US to be funded by Japan.
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South Korea awards Trump gold crown amid deal to unlock $350bn trade talks; South Korea. The news, isn’t it? It sounds like South Korea’s diplomats and negotiators have fully embraced the art of the deal, or perhaps, the art of knowing exactly what makes someone tick. The big takeaway here is that South Korea presented Donald Trump with a replica of a gold crown from the ancient Silla kingdom, along with the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, the highest honor the country can bestow. All this, it seems, in the pursuit of unlocking $350 billion in trade talks.
It’s difficult to ignore the underlying strategy at play here. The former president’s well-known affinity for all things gold is, let’s just say, a matter of public record. He’s been showered with golden gifts for years, so it’s probably not a surprise that this approach has been applied again. I think we can agree that the South Korean delegation clearly understood the assignment and were able to play to his known ego, attempting to smooth the way for potentially lucrative trade negotiations.
Now, before we go any further, the Constitution is something to keep in mind. The Foreign Emoluments Clause is there to stop people from taking gifts from foreign governments. But here’s the kicker: this sort of thing is arguably what you might expect when dealing with a leader known for his…unique leadership style. It’s a reminder of how quickly established norms can be, shall we say, redefined. It’s hard to believe this is how things have to be handled, but here we are.
The response from the world has been…varied, to say the least. Many people point out how easy it is to manipulate him, while others acknowledge that countries are doing what they feel they must to protect their own interests. The contrast between this display of flattery and past actions is also striking, especially when considering the recent issues around the Hyundai plant and the South Korean workers. One moment you’re deporting them, the next you’re handing out a crown. It does seem a bit hypocritical.
The question of whether or not this strategy will work is, of course, something else entirely. The former president is known for changing his mind and his priorities, so a gold crown and a medal might not guarantee success. But let’s be real, it’s not like the United States hasn’t become more isolated while others try to manipulate the former president for better deals. At best it seems to be a short term solution.
What’s also interesting, is the fact that his actions seem to be focused on his own personal vanity. He wants to eat, pray, and love his way around the globe, while domestic priorities languish. This is what you get when your biggest domestic priority is a damn ballroom.
And let’s not forget the symbolic nature of such a gift. A gold crown, right? It’s hard not to read this as a play on the former president’s self-image and how much he likes gold. Given his love of shiny objects and his perceived sense of his own importance, a gold crown is a pretty clear indication of what’s expected.
One has to wonder how the people of South Korea are feeling about all this. It’s a complex situation. The government is playing the game and protecting their own interests, while the public perhaps isn’t as impressed. If you’re a South Korean, this is kind of embarrassing. I mean, this is a bit too much.
In the end, it’s a sign of a world where diplomacy can be a strange and often unsettling dance. The rules, the customs, and the values can all be bent to suit the personalities involved. South Korea’s move here is a clear illustration of that dynamic in action. And it’s a reminder that sometimes, the best way to get ahead is to know what someone wants and to be willing to give it to them.