Trump and Kim: you couldn’t make it up

A TRAILER for a fake movie, Dennis Rodman in tears, and praise for North Korea’s condo potential. The Singapore summit could not have been more bizarre, writes Karen Brooks.

IT was left to North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un to best sum up how to interpret the “historic” meeting between him and US President Donald Trump in Singapore earlier this week.

Through his translator, Kim said: “Many people in the world will think of this as a… form of fantasy… from a science fiction movie.”

More appropriate perhaps is to liken the entire “Kimp” summit to a reality TV show. Aside from the fact one of the major players in this global production starred in and produced his own show, RTV is where producers go out of their way to make everything screened appear “natural”, despite the fact the “talent” is coached, the programs are heavily edited and stage-managed with a certain conclusion in mind from the outset.

We were even treated to an unexpected intruder in the form of a blubbing and strange Dennis Rodman claiming that, despite receiving death threats and having taken “bullets”, he was responsible for the meeting.

Then there was the four-plus minute trailer sent to Kim prior to the assembly which was reminiscent of either a war-era propaganda film or, as one viewer declared, a pitch done for The Gruen Transfer on ABC, where advertising agencies compete against each other in an attempt to sell the impossible.

Never has there been a more unlikely pair of mates. Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump in Singapore for the summit. (Pic: Kevin Lim/The Strait Times)

Starring Trump and Kim, who have morphed into global celebrities rather than serious political figures, it included images of war, historic cultural sites, happy children, nature, technology and mechanisation — oh and Sylvester Stallone. Laced with hyperbole, dire predictions and what some have described as cartoon-like symbols, it served a specific purpose. For example, the North Korean flag was equated with the timeless significance of the colosseum and pyramids — or will be providing they toe the line.

James Poniewozik, the Times television critic, described the film as “totalitarian kitsch” filled with “corniness” and an “idealised aesthetic”.

He said, “there’s this theme with him (Trump) where he sees himself as the protagonist of a show that he and others are watching.”

One where he invites Kim to be his co-star. And, possibly, his partner in real estate investment.

After the conference, Trump spoke of North Korea’s “great beaches” and said, “You see that whenever they’re exploding their cannons into the ocean. I said, ‘boy, look at that view. Wouldn’t that make a great condo?’”

You can’t make this stuff up.

Dennis Rodman weeps on CNN as he talks about the backlash over his North Korea trips. (Pic: Twitter/@CuomoPrimeTime)

Mere months ago, these two were trading insults and threats which had the world collectively holding their breath — slurs such as “rocket man”, “on a suicide mission for him and his regime” and “mentally deranged US dotard” were fired back and forth.

What’s become evident post this all-too-brief summit is that many bold things were said and promised, but according to numerous sources, the signed agreement, with the exception of the recovery of the remains of fallen US soldiers and prisoners of war, lacks specific details.

China is reported as being underwhelmed, former US VP Joe Biden expressed concern that the human rights abuses of North Korea where swept aside. Even Trump’s own people and allies have expressed surprise and concern at the news that joint military exercises with South Korea were to be suspended.

AlJazeera described the Singapore summit as the latest episode in a “diplomatic soap opera” — one that, if some pundits have their way, may see the “pussy-grabbing” President nominated for a Nobel Peace prize.

Surreal, you say?

No more surreal than, as one journalist noted, the host of The Apprentice negotiating a nuclear deal with the North Korean leader.

This is now the world we live in — where TV ratings and celebrity Trump real diplomacy.

Dr Karen Brooks, Honorary Senior Research Consultant, IASH, University of Queensland.

For the latest from RendezView, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.