- If we don't join hands with South Korea now, supporters will let go of Trump's hand first this time
President Donald Trump re-entered the White House in 2025. When he regained power, the world was on edge, and expectations and concerns intersected at the same time within the United States. But what is clear is that this is his last term in office. Unable to seek re-election, the one-term president has four years left, whether he leaves a political legacy or collapses from division.
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| Kim Moon-kyo (current) CAM Broadcasting. News CEO |
Indeed, there are signs of change in the U.S. right now. Even manufacturing voters, who have been loyal supporters of Trump, are starting to complain that "tariffs are holding us back, not protecting us." Even supporters are starting to turn their backs, and the president can no longer ignore the red lights.
In the meantime, tariff negotiations with Korea are a critical test for President Trump. Korea is not just a trading partner. It is a key ally closely connected with the United States in semiconductors, batteries, artificial intelligence, and defense industries. The cracks in Korea-U.S. economic cooperation soon lead to the weakening of the U.S. strategy in Asia. Furthermore, the Korean government has already proposed practical and flexible negotiations.
If President Trump accepts this proposal, it can gain both political justification and practical benefits. Conversely, rejecting it and pushing for unilateral tariffs could lead to a triple crisis of reigniting anti-American public opinion in Korea, falling trust in the alliance, and division of supporters in the United States.
President Trump will have four remaining years in office. However, stability in the first year is crucial for the proper use of those four years. Congress, the media, and internal opposition forces will sway him in unison if the discord with the alliance continues at the beginning of the state administration. It is time for pragmatic diplomacy and strategic choice.
Trump has always called himself a "negotiation genius." Now he has to prove it with actions. Not with a hardline stance, but with flexibility to save allies. Accepting South Korea's offer is not submission, but rather the most realistic and clever option to lead his final term to success.
If we don't join hands with Korea now, supporters will let go of Trump's hand first this time.
김문교 대표기자 cambroadcast@naver.com
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