CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale has asserted that several claims made by former President Donald Trump regarding South Korea's defense contributions and the 2020 election were false.
Trump stated that South Korea had not been contributing significantly to its defense costs prior to his presidency and that he had secured a deal for them to pay $3 billion annually for protection. Dale disputed this, noting that South Korea had a long-standing cost-sharing agreement and that under the Obama administration, they were already paying approximately $800 million per year.
Dale further clarified that the increase negotiated during the Trump administration resulted in a payment still below $1 billion, not the $3 billion claimed by Trump. He also stated that Trump's assertion that President Biden rescinded a $3 billion deal was untrue, as no such deal existed. According to Dale, the Biden administration subsequently negotiated further increases in South Korea's payments.
Trump also commented on South Korea's lack of involvement in U.S. actions concerning Iran, suggesting a transactional approach to international alliances. "We can’t go around and protect all of these countries, especially when they’re not there to help us," Trump said.
In addition to his remarks about South Korea, Trump reiterated his claims that the 2020 election was "rigged." Dale countered this by stating, "Trump was lying. He lost the 2020 election fair and square to Biden."