During a meeting with President Donald Trump on Wednesday, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung gifted the U.S. leader with a literal crown, while lauding his commitment to peacemaking.
The foot-tall crown is a replica of a precious South Korean relic that was unearthed from royal tombs in Gyeongju in the 1970s.
Politics: Trump Tells U.S. Troops In Japan ‘I’d Love To Have Your Job’ And Other Wild Stuff
While Trump didn’t signal an interest in wearing the headpiece, according to The New York Times, the gift notably comes as the president’s crackdown on immigrants and deployment of troops have been the subject of “No Kings” protests in both the U.S. and Korea.
Lee also bestowed Trump with the “Grand Order of Mugunghwa,” South Korea’s highest civil honor, and an accompanying necklace.
“It’s as beautiful as it can possibly be,” Trump said of the honor, which has never previously been awarded to a U.S. president. “I’d like to wear it right now.”
South Korea’s gesture followed a similar set of actions by Japan, where Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi graced Trump with a series of golf gifts and signaled that she intends to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize earlier this week.
News: Truck Full Of ‘Aggressive’ Lab Monkeys Crashes In Mississippi, Sparking Wild Scene On Highway
These blatant efforts to play to Trump’s ego come as both countries have finalized trade deals with the U.S. and underscore how world leaders have sought to engage the president as they seek favorable terms.
“South Korea is the latest country to shower Trump with gifts, as global leaders use a combination of flattery and pageantry to cater to a president who has displayed a willingness to torpedo long-standing alliances,” The Washington Post reported.
Trump noted Wednesday that South Korea had agreed to pay $350 billion to the U.S. in exchange for tariffs to be lowered. He added that he’d granted the country permission to build a nuclear-powered submarine.
“A great trip, with a great President of South Korea!” Trump touted.
News: Trump Was Concerned About 1 Thing After Assassination Attempt, ABC Reporter Says
Trump and Japan’s leaders had also previously announced a similar deal that included a $550 billion investment in the U.S. This week, they inked another deal on the supply of critical minerals while heralding a “golden age” in bilateral relations.
South Korea and Japan’s approaches point to the strategies that countries are employing to gain Trump’s support in order to avoid policies like steeper tariffs. Their methods echo those used by a number of world leaders who’ve capitalized on pomp and circumstance, praise and gifts in a bid to connect with the president.
“Foreign leaders are eager for a positive relationship with President Trump and to participate in the booming Trump economy,” Anna Kelly, a White House spokesperson, previously told NPR.
Their actions, however, also coincide with ongoing tensions with the administration over issues like the treatment of South Korean workers during a raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia.
News: MSNBC Host Goes Off On CNN’s ‘Right-Wing’ Owner For Paying Scott Jennings To ‘Lie’ About Trump
“Nothing is forever. You can go from [Trump’s] nice list to the naughty list and back with some alacrity,” Justin Logan, director of defense and foreign policy studies at the CATO Institute, told NPR. “That’s the really unnerving thing. So I think the lesson here will be, keep larding on the praise, even if it doesn’t feel so great.”
