President Donald Trump is reportedly raising pointed questions about America’s financial commitments overseas, specifically calling out South Korea after Seoul turned down his request for help in the conflict with Iran — and making clear he won’t forget it.
Trump made the comments during a Sunday night sitdown with Fox News host Trey Gowdy on Sunday Night in America, where he discussed U.S. military operations against Iran and in the Strait of Hormuz while voicing frustration over the lack of support from American allies.
“We got very little help from other countries,” Trump said. “And we help other countries; we spend billions and billions of dollars helping NATO and other countries.”
South Korea drew particular criticism from the president, who said he personally reached out to the country asking for its participation in the conflict.
“South Korea as an example. We helped them, but when it came to helping us, I didn’t put on a heavy sell, but I just said, ‘Would you like to participate?’ and they all said, ‘No, thank you.’ And I said, ‘I’m going to remember that to myself,'” Trump said.
He went on to suggest there could be financial consequences for countries that decline to reciprocate American support. “So you could say we are going to make a lot of money, because when they’re not willing to go for you, you just can’t be a stupid person and help them,” he said.
The remarks come roughly two weeks after Trump directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to significantly scale back planned joint military exercises with South Korea. At the time, Trump had specifically referenced Seoul’s refusal to join the Iran conflict when announcing that decision, though he called the two issues “somewhat unrelated (?).”
Trump had also said at the time that the military exercises were “totally inappropriate and hostile” toward North Korea, pointing to his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and describing Pyongyang as “unthreatening and respectful” during his time in office.
During his conversation with Gowdy, Trump once again stressed the size of America’s military presence in South Korea. “They want our help. We have thousands and thousands — like, in South Korea, as an example, we have 40,000 soldiers over there. And I said, ‘Would you mind giving us a little hand with Iran, the Islamic Republic of Iran?’ And they say, ‘Well, we’d rather not.’ And I said, ‘OK, thank you very much. I appreciate it,'” Trump recounted.
He closed with a warning for allies who decline to step up when asked. “But I think you have to remember this stuff,” Trump added. “I really do.”
