As U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meet on Singapore's Sentosa Island on Tuesday, Trump鈥檚 Twitter timeline shows an interesting history between the two leaders 鈥� one that鈥檚 marred by insults and threats, with the odd compliment in between.
Here鈥檚 a look back at some of the many comments Trump has shared on Twitter about the North Korean leader.
First, there were the insults
In September last year Trump took to Twitter amid an ongoing spat with North Korean policy makers, calling Kim Jong Un a "madman."
Kim Jong Un of North Korea, who is obviously a madman who doesn't mind starving or killing his people, will be tested like never before!
鈥� Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
The insult came after North Korea鈥檚 foreign minister Ri Yong Ho said the country may test a powerful nuclear weapon over the Pacific Ocean 鈥� a retaliation to Trump鈥檚 earlier threats of military force. The "madman" comment also came after a historic televised statement from Kim, in which the North Korean leader called Trump a "mentally deranged U.S. dotard."
Weeks later, more insults followed.
After Trump鈥檚 stern speech about North Korea鈥檚 nuclear weapon program last November, Kim鈥檚 government responded by calling the U.S. president an "old lunatic" 鈥� to which Trump responded by passively calling the North Korean leader 鈥渟hort and fat.鈥�
Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me "old," when I would NEVER call him "short and fat?" Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend - and maybe someday that will happen!
鈥� Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
Then there were the threats
The new year began with another televised address from Kim, this time involving threats of a 鈥渘uclear button鈥� on the North Korean leader鈥檚 desk.
"[T]he whole territory of the U.S. is within range of our nuclear strike," Kim said in his speech.
Trump鈥檚 retort included mention of his own 鈥渘uclear button鈥� 鈥� one that doesn鈥檛 actually exist.
North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the 鈥淣uclear Button is on his desk at all times.鈥� Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!
鈥� Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
Then came the compliments
In late March, Trump tweeted with messages of optimism about "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," with mention that Kim would do 鈥渨hat is right for his people and for humanity."
For years and through many administrations, everyone said that peace and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula was not even a small possibility. Now there is a good chance that Kim Jong Un will do what is right for his people and for humanity. Look forward to our meeting!
鈥� Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
Weeks after the tweet, in a meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron, Trump went on to say that Kim has been "very open鈥� and 鈥渧ery honourable."
Although Trump鈥檚 initial meeting with Kim in May was later cancelled, in the days (and hours) before Tuesday鈥檚 highly anticipated Singapore summit, Trump took to Twitter again with similar messages about Kim鈥檚 ability to create 鈥減eace and great prosperity for his land.鈥�
鈥reate peace and great prosperity for his land. I look forward to meeting him and have a feeling that this one-time opportunity will not be wasted!
鈥� Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
