Trump is reportedly 'belligerent' about North Korea in meetings


President Trump has a "fixation" on North Korea, Axios reported Friday. The president is said to be the most hawkish voice in the room during conversations about potential war with Pyongyang, and his "belligerent rhetoric" is so forceful as to be a cause for concern, Axios reported, citing unnamed officials.
Trump's aggression toward North Korea is not exactly a surprise, as the White House has undercut Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's public overtures for diplomacy. Trump "is surrounded by advisers who share his concern about the rogue state," Axios explained, "but not his fixation on a military strike."
Additionally, Trump is holding out hope that China can put pressure on North Korea — though his intent to flex diplomatic muscle with Beijing has stifled his ability to criticize it. Axios noted that Trump told The New York Times on Thursday that China is "hurting us very badly on trade," but the president told the Times that his economic dealings with Beijing have been guided by the hope that China will help the U.S. corner North Korea.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
As a result, while the president yearns for a "trade war" and high taxes on aluminum and steel imports to the U.S., the North Korea crisis has prevented him from pushing for the protectionist economic policies he so desires, Axios reported. However, one source told Axios that Trump's impulses have been restrained during his first year in office, predicting that 2018 would mark the beginning of the "full Trump" era.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kelly O'Meara Morales is a staff writer at The Week. He graduated from Sarah Lawrence College and studied Middle Eastern history and nonfiction writing amongst other esoteric subjects. When not compulsively checking Twitter, he writes and records music, subsists on tacos, and watches basketball.
-
Measles cases surge to 33-year high
Speed Read The infection was declared eliminated from the US in 2000 but has seen a resurgence amid vaccine hesitancy
-
The New York Times plays defense after publishing leaked Mamdani college application details
IN THE SPOTLIGHT The decision to publish details of Zohran Mamdani's Columbia University application has reignited simmering questions about sourcing and editorial guidelines
-
New tariffs set on 14 trading partners
Speed Read A new slate of tariffs will begin August 1 on imports from Japan, South Korea, Thailand and more
-
New tariffs set on 14 trading partners
Speed Read A new slate of tariffs will begin August 1 on imports from Japan, South Korea, Thailand and more
-
New tariffs set on 14 trading partners
Speed Read A new slate of tariffs will begin on August 1, with rates ranging from 25% to 40% on imports from Japan, South Korea, Thailand and more
-
Elon Musk launching 'America Party'
Speed Read The tech mogul promised to form a new political party if Trump's megabill passed Congress
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities
-
Obama, Bush and Bono eulogize USAID on final day
Speed Read The US Agency for International Development, a humanitarian organization, has been gutted by the Trump administration