Trump suggests he 'wouldn't let' the CIA use Kim Jong Un's brother as a source under his watch

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 11 June 2019

To be honest, it's not really clear what President Trump meant when he brought up Kim Jong Un's brother at a press gaggle on Tuesday.

The North Korean leader's half brother, whom Kim is suspected of ordering the murder of in 2017, was reported Monday to be a CIA informant prior to his death. But when Trump was asked about the news on Tuesday, he responded by saying "I wouldn't let that happen under my auspices."

Trump was seemingly asked about the report on Tuesday, but his full quote on the matter doesn't exactly clear things up. "I saw the information about the CIA with respect to [Kim Jong Un's] brother ... and I would tell him that would not happen under my auspices," Trump said. That could mean Trump wouldn't let his metaphorical half brother lend information to foreign intelligence agencies, or it could mean he wouldn't let the CIA work with Kim's family. But judging by Trump's favorable discussion of Kim both before and after his "auspices" drop, it seems to be the latter. Watch the whole clip below. Kathryn Krawczyk

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

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.

Explore More

Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.