Trump Crowned in South Korea as President Lee Declares a ‘Golden Age’ of U.S.-Korea Relations
President Donald Trump was presented with a towering gold crown and South Korea’s highest national honor Wednesday during a state ceremony in Seoul, as President Lee Jae Myung declared the dawn of a “new golden age” in the alliance between the two nations.
The lavish event took place just hours after Trump announced a sweeping trade agreement with South Korea. In a dramatic moment captured on live television, President Lee bestowed upon Trump the Grand Order of Mugungwha — a prestigious decoration awarded to foreign heads of state — along with a replica of a royal Silla-era crown, notable for its elaborate gold prongs and historical symbolism.
“It’s as beautiful as it can possibly be… I’d like to wear it right now,” Trump said, clearly pleased with the gift. The translator explained that the crown was modeled after the most ornate example from the ancient Silla dynasty, which unified much of the Korean Peninsula and ruled for nearly a millennium.
“It symbolizes the spirit of Silla, which brought peace to the Korean peninsula for the first time,” President Lee said. “There will be a new golden age of the Korean-U.S. alliance.”
The ceremony came just days after left-wing demonstrators staged nationwide protests in the U.S. under the banner “No Kings,” opposing Trump’s policies and accusing him of authoritarianism. The protests, held on October 18, reportedly drew millions of participants in cities across the country. Trump responded to the movement with a social media meme depicting himself wearing a crown and launching an attack on the protestors from a fighter jet dubbed “King Trump.”
While Trump made no mention of those protests in Seoul, the optics of receiving a literal crown from a foreign head of state — especially a gold one — is likely to fuel further debate back home.
In private bilateral talks following the ceremony, President Lee again praised Trump’s past efforts to engage with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. “Chairman Kim has not really accepted your good intention and your gesture,” Lee said, referencing a proposed summit that has yet to materialize. “But I believe that we have been planting good seeds for a better future.”
Lee also raised security concerns, noting that South Korea remains technically at war with North Korea. He said his government plans to boost military spending and asked Trump to approve a new plan that would provide nuclear fuel for South Korean submarines.
“I know that you are officially at war,” Trump said in response. “But we will see what we can do to get that all straightened out.”
The crown and medal presentation adds a personal and symbolic layer to what has already been a high-stakes diplomatic visit. Trump is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, concluding his three-nation tour of Asia.