Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) on Monday criticized President Donald Trump's public praise for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his decision to significantly reduce joint U.S. military exercises with South Korea, labeling the president a "man-child."
Pocan's remarks came after Trump posted on his Truth Social platform Sunday, citing his "very good relationship" with Kim and stating that scaling back the exercises was "unrelated" to South Korea's decision not to assist in denuclearizing Iran.
"South Korea is our sixth biggest trading partner on the planet," Pocan stated on MS NOW's "The Last Word." "It’s one of our very best allies that we have. And Donald Trump is just proving he’s America’s most obnoxious man-child once again in doing this. But to side with Kim Jong Un over our sixth biggest trading partner is beyond comprehension."
Pocan, who recently traveled to South Korea with a bipartisan congressional delegation, emphasized the importance of the U.S. relationship with the country. He noted that Trump's actions appeared indifferent to these efforts.
In his social media post, Trump wrote, "Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, I am not happy with the fact that the United States has, long ago, ordered to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea." He added, "Therefore, and based on the fact that it is too late to cancel, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to substantially reduce the Joint Military Exercises!"
Pocan pointed to the financial implications, recalling that Trump previously used tariffs to secure a $350 billion investment commitment from South Korea. The reduction of military exercises, Pocan argued, risks undermining this economic benefit for Americans who are already facing higher prices on groceries and everyday goods.
"It’s almost incomprehensible. It’s impossible to understand why he would do this at this time other than he just thinks he has this magical relationship with Kim Jong Un — who right now is providing troops to Russia to fight Ukraine," Pocan said.
The Wisconsin Democrat also highlighted a perceived contradiction in Trump's foreign policy, contrasting his respect for North Korea, a nuclear-armed state, with his stated aim of denuclearizing Iran. Pocan noted that North Korea's nuclear capabilities pose a potential threat to the United States.