President Donald Trump recently received a gift that might stir up some controversy among “No Kings” demonstrators—a replica of an ancient golden crown.
This gesture came from South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who honored Trump with the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, South Korea’s most prestigious accolade. The award recognized Trump’s efforts to foster peace on the Korean Peninsula during his initial term.
Trump has the distinction of being the first American president to ever receive this esteemed honor.
Throughout his presidency, Trump engaged in three meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in an effort to negotiate a denuclearization agreement, a mission that eventually eluded success.
During the award announcement, it was stated that the honor was given to the Republican president with the hope of future peace and prosperity for the Korean Peninsula.
The ceremony took place on a Wednesday afternoon in Gyeongju, South Korea, alongside the APEC summit. Trump was presented with an ornate medal representing the Grand Order of Mugunghwa and the sizable golden crown, which is a replica of the most lavish of the six existing crowns from Korea’s Silla-era.
The announcer is explained this was ‘the first Korean kingdom to unite the Korean peninsula.’
Lee showed Trump his two gilded gifts.
‘I’d like to wear it right now,’ Trump said of the medal, which was displayed in a picture frame. ‘I will cherish it.’
President Donald Trump (center left) was gifted a golden crown (right) by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (center right) and the Grand Order of Mugunghwa (left), South Korea’s top honor, for his efforts trying to achieve a denuclearization deal with North Korea
The Silla gold crown was the ‘largest and most extravagant’ of six remaining crowns from that era, which brought peace to the Korean peninsula for the first time in history. President Donald Trump’s gift was a replica
The crown was on display in a glass case.
The president was told the gift from Lee was supposed to usher in a ‘golden age’ of U.S.-South Korean relations as well.
Trump told Lee the gift was ‘very special’ – and did not try to put the crown on.
The move was the latest gesture by a world leader to lean into the president’s golden tastes, as Trump has splashed the White House with the color associated with wealth and prestige.
In Japan, the country’s new leader, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, gifted Trump a golden golf ball, a putter that belonged to Trump’s late friend, the assassinated former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his golf bag, signed by Japanese golfer Hideki Matsuyama.
Lee, who took office in June after the country’s former President Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from power, met with the president in Washington in August, and as APEC’s host rolled out the red carpet for him.
When Trump touched down Wednesday morning at the Gimgahae International Airport, he was serenaded to a rendition of YMCA by the South Korean Air Force Band.
Ahead of the bilateral meeting, Trump was treated to more pomp with a dramatic drum ceremony and military members hoisting sabers.
President Donald Trump (right) greets South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (left) outside the National Museum in Gyeongju, South Korea on Wednesday, where he was treated to more pomp including a drum performance and troops with sabers
President Donald Trump (left) and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (right) enter the Gyeongju National Museum on Wednesday, where they held talks on the sidelines of the APEC conference
‘I’d like to wear it right now,’ President Donald Trump Trump (left) said when looking at the ornate medal that symbolizes the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, during a ceremony Wednesday afternoon with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (right)
President Donald Trump (left) walks the red carpet as he arrives in South Korea alongside South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (right). He was serenaded with his favorite rally song, the Village People’s YMCA, by the South Korean Air Force Band
The meal served also played to Trump’s tastes – it included a salad with Thousand Island dressing, a nod to the president’s New York roots, followed by a three-course Korean meal with freshly harvested Gyeongju rice and a gold-themed dessert.
During the leaders’ sit-down, Trump said he wouldn’t be meeting with Kim on this trip due to their schedules not lining up.
‘I know you’re officially at war but we will see what we can do to get that straightened out,’ Trump told Lee.
‘I know Kim Jong Un very well, we get along very well,’ he added.
It’s unclear how much the Trump administration has been able to get in touch with Kim’s regime since he was sworn-in in January.
In Tokyo, Trump met with Japanese family members of individuals who been abducted by North Korea.
Trump will have what’s considered his most high-stakes meeting of the trip, that with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, on the sidelines of the APEC summit in South Korea Thursday morning.
