Dennis Rodman joins Trump in Texas
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to meet Kim Jong Un again, but so far his overtures to the North Korean leader have gone unanswered. Former NBA star Dennis Rodman could potentially play a role in reopening communication, given his friendly relationship with the leader of North Korea.
Rodman was part of Trump’s entourage on Thursday as the president spoke at a truck factory in Denton, Texas, before heading to a campaign rally in Durant, Oklahoma. No official reason was given for Rodman’s presence, although he has a local connection to Durant dating back to his college basketball days.
Trump: “The one who knew him best was Dennis Rodman”
Speaking to workers at the Peterbilt factory, Trump pointed to Rodman’s relationship with Kim Jong Un.
“When I wanted to get to know Kim Jong Un when we’re having a problem — Kim Jong Un and I get along — but the one who knew him best was Dennis Rodman,” Trump said.
Nearby, Rodman sat on the back of a semi-truck. The Basketball Hall of Famer wore a black Chicago Bulls hat, studded black jeans and a shirt depicting himself lifting a trophy.
As he later climbed into the presidential motorcade for the trip to Oklahoma, Rodman told Reuters that he hoped to talk to Trump about “life.” Asked whether he would be visiting North Korea anytime soon, the basketball legend replied: “If you buy the ticket.”
Trump’s previous meetings with Kim Jong Un
During his first term, Trump held three high-profile meetings with Kim Jong Un, including a visit to the Korean Demilitarized Zone. However, no similar meeting has taken place since Trump returned to the presidency.
Trump has described Kim as a friend with whom he can work, despite North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric and continued commitment to nuclear weapons.
The US president is scheduled to attend next month’s annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in China. The trip could theoretically provide an opportunity to arrange a meeting with Kim.
“He likes Trump, doesn’t like a lot of other people,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday. “I’m about the only person in the entire world that he likes, and I like him.”
Source: Reuters
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