Former CIA Director Is Skeptical About Trump’s Preparation For North Korea Summit
- 6 years ago
Former CIA Director Michael Hayden seems skeptical about President Trump’s level of preparedness in advance of a potential summit with North Korea.
Former CIA Director Michael Hayden seems skeptical about President Trump's level of preparedness in advance of a potential summit with North Korea.
During an appearance on ABC News' "This Week," Hayden said about the regime's leader, "Kim Jong-un knows his program inside and out. I think he knows what he can concede...and what he cannot concede. I don't know that [President Trump] has done the kind of homework that would allow him to do this."
A Time report from earlier this month corroborates this perspective, stating that "...Trump hasn't set aside much time to prepare for meeting with Kim Jong Un, a stark contrast to the approach of past presidents. 'He doesn't think he needs to,' said a senior administration official familiar with the President's preparation."
Whether or not a summit will even take place is in question however, after Trump announced his decision to pull out, citing the regime's "tremendous anger and open hostility."
Despite the rockiness, both sides have since expressed an openness to following through with the potentially historic event, with North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister saying, "The unilateral cancellation of the summit was unexpected and very regrettable…[North Korea is] willing to sit down with the United States any time, in any format, to resolve the problems."
And on May 25, Trump tweeted, "We are having very productive talks with North Korea about reinstating the Summit which, if it does happen, will likely remain in Singapore on the same date, June 12th., and, if necessary, will be extended beyond that date."
For his part, Hayden expressed optimism about a potential meeting, saying, "On balance, I'm modestly in favor of this going forward, and on balance, I'm modestly thinking it's more rather than less likely that it will happen."
Former CIA Director Michael Hayden seems skeptical about President Trump's level of preparedness in advance of a potential summit with North Korea.
During an appearance on ABC News' "This Week," Hayden said about the regime's leader, "Kim Jong-un knows his program inside and out. I think he knows what he can concede...and what he cannot concede. I don't know that [President Trump] has done the kind of homework that would allow him to do this."
A Time report from earlier this month corroborates this perspective, stating that "...Trump hasn't set aside much time to prepare for meeting with Kim Jong Un, a stark contrast to the approach of past presidents. 'He doesn't think he needs to,' said a senior administration official familiar with the President's preparation."
Whether or not a summit will even take place is in question however, after Trump announced his decision to pull out, citing the regime's "tremendous anger and open hostility."
Despite the rockiness, both sides have since expressed an openness to following through with the potentially historic event, with North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister saying, "The unilateral cancellation of the summit was unexpected and very regrettable…[North Korea is] willing to sit down with the United States any time, in any format, to resolve the problems."
And on May 25, Trump tweeted, "We are having very productive talks with North Korea about reinstating the Summit which, if it does happen, will likely remain in Singapore on the same date, June 12th., and, if necessary, will be extended beyond that date."
For his part, Hayden expressed optimism about a potential meeting, saying, "On balance, I'm modestly in favor of this going forward, and on balance, I'm modestly thinking it's more rather than less likely that it will happen."