Trump plugs his golf club in threatening North Korea speech

DONALD Trump pulled off a fiery speech about North Korea on his Asia tour. But the US President couldn’t resist one jarring remark.

DONALD Trump pulled off a blistering speech in South Korea, blasting the North and calling for global action to stop the repressive regime — but there was one jarring moment.

The United States President could not resist the opportunity to promote his golf courses, reminding his audience in Seoul that the US Women’s Open was held at his club earlier this year.

“In fact — and you know what I’m going to say — the women’s US Open was held this year at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey,” said the billionaire businessman, to applause.

“And it just happened to be won by a great Korean golfer, Sung-hyun Park, and eight of the top players were from Korea, and the top four golfers, one, two, three, four, the top four were from Korea. Congratulations.”

It was particularly awkward since Mr Trump has been criticised by ethics experts for failing to completely divest his assets and using the presidency to promote his hotels and golf clubs and enrich himself.

The US President’s speech was filled with powerful rhetoric — but he couldn’t resist promoting his golf club. Picture: Lee Jin-man/AFP Photo

Mr Trump was applauded by his audience of South Korean politicians. Picture: Jim Watson/AFP

The former reality star has made a point of using golf as a bonding method. He was pictured fist-bumping Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on a course near Tokyo on Sunday.

The President devoted the rest of his speech at South Korea’s National Assembly to issuing a warning to Kim Jong-un, insisting that the US would not be intimidated by the rogue state.

“The regime has interpreted America’s past restraint as weakness,” Mr Trump said. “This would be a fatal miscalculation. This is a very different administration than the United States has had in the past.

素晴らしい友人とのゴルフ。会話も弾みます。
A round of golf with a marvelous friend (President Donald J. Trump), full of spirited conversation. @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/ZpMrWeWudW

— 安倍晋三 (@AbeShinzo) November 5, 2017

“Today, I hope I speak not only for our country but for all civilised nations when I say to the North: do not underestimate us and do not try us. We will defend our common security, our shared prosperity and our sacred liberty.

“America does not seek conflict or confrontation but we will never run from it. History is filled with discarded regimes that have foolishly tested America’s resolve. Anyone who doubts the strength or determination of the United States should look to our past and you will

doubt it no longer.

“We will not permit America or our allies to be blackmailed or attacked.

Mr Trump fist-bumps Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe while playing golf at the Kasumigaseki Country Club Golf Course in Kawagoe, outside Tokyo. Picture: Japan’s Cabinet Public Relations Office via Jiji Press/AFP photo

Members of ‘No Trump Coalition’ front clash with pro-US protesters as they wait for the president’s arrival. Picture: Ahn Young-joon/AP

“We will not allow American cities to be threatened with destruction. We will not be intimidated and we will not let the worst atrocities in history be repeated here on this ground we fought and died so hard to secure.”

He warned North Korea that the weapons they have would not protect them but would put them in grave danger, and he called on the state’s leaders to “cease their threats and dismantle their nuclear program”.

Only then, added Mr Trump, would the US engage with the nation and help to set them on a better path towards prosperity and light.

The US President called for “every nation, including China and Russia” to implement UN Security Council resolutions, downgrade diplomatic relations with the regime and sever all ties of trade and technology without delay.

“We dream of a Korea that is free, a peninsula that is safe and families that are reunited once again,” Mr Trump concluded. “We dream of highways connecting North and South and this nuclear nightmare replaced with the beautiful promise of peace.

“Until that day comes, we stand strong and alert. Our eyes are fixed to the North and our hearts [are] praying for the day when all Koreans can live in freedom.”