Dennis Rodman to Join Trump on Campaign Trip Amid Renewed North Korea Diplomacy Talks
The former NBA star and onetime envoy to North Korea is expected to appear with President Trump at a campaign event in Oklahoma.
Dennis Rodman is set to appear alongside President Donald Trump at a campaign event in Durant, Oklahoma, this week, sources close to Rodman and familiar with White House travel plans told The Post. The appearance comes as Trump reportedly considers further engagement with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Rodman, a former NBA champion and WWE Hall of Famer, previously made at least five trips to North Korea between 2013 and 2017. He is scheduled to participate in a campaign event in Durant, where he attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University. This potential collaboration highlights Rodman's unique position as an intermediary, with sources indicating that Trump has been seeking ideas regarding North Korea and has consulted with Rodman.
"After the midterms, Trump wants to refocus again on North Korea and start talking about Kim Jong Un," one source said. "Dennis believes he’s the ambassador of goodwill between North Korea and the United States. As Trump ponders what to do next, he’s been soliciting ideas and one of those key people he’s talking to is Dennis."
Neither the White House nor representatives for Rodman have responded to requests for comment. Trump's campaign travel schedule is subject to change, and it remains unclear if Rodman will speak on stage with the president.
Kim Jong Un is known to be a basketball enthusiast, having followed the Chicago Bulls during his time at boarding school in Switzerland. Rodman has previously described Kim as a "friend for life." The relationship between Rodman and Trump also dates back to Rodman's appearance on "The Celebrity Apprentice" in 2009.
President Trump announced last month that he intends to meet with Kim later this year. However, North Korea has expressed skepticism, warning that efforts to persuade them to abandon their nuclear weapons would be futile. Trump is expected to attend the ASEAN and APEC conferences in mid-November in Asia, fueling speculation about a potential stopover to meet with Kim.
Rodman first visited North Korea in 2013 for a "basketball democracy tour." He was also reported to be in Singapore for Trump's first summit with Kim. Throughout Trump's first term, the two leaders met three times: at a summit in Singapore in 2018, another in Vietnam in 2019, and a brief handshake at the Korean Demilitarized Zone. No meetings have occurred since Trump returned to office.
