This resource tracked statements, developments, visits, and other interactions in US-Indo-Pacific relations under the President Trump administration. Special focus was given to the comments and activities of President Donald J. Trump; Vice President Mike Pence; United States Trade Representative Ambassador Robert E. Lighthizer; Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Jr.; former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson; former Secretary of Defense James Mattis; and former Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark Esper.
The Trump Administration & US - Indo-Pacific Relations
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Remarks by President Trump, Chairman Kim Jong Un, and President Moon in Greeting at the Korean Demilitarized Zone
"PRESIDENT TRUMP: I just want to say that this is my honor. I didn’t really expect it. We were in Japan for the G20. We came over and I said, “Hey, I’m over here. I want to call up Chairman Kim.” And we got to meet. And stepping across that line was a great honor. A lot of progress has been made. A lot of friendships have been made. And this has been in particular a great friendship. So I just want to thank you…
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Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo Remarks to Press - North Korea
"SECRETARY POMPEO: Go ahead. You all saw it. I don’t need to tell you about the story, but what do you all want to talk about?
QUESTION: Well, when talks resume, where do you – what’s the next step? Where do you start? Would you start where you left off or —
SECRETARY POMPEO: Yeah, so I think so. And so I think one of the things that hadn’t been written about is even in Hanoi we’d made progress, all right? And so we think…
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Remarks by President Trump and President Moon of the Republic of Korea Before Restricted Bilateral Meeting
"[PRESIDENT TRUMP:] I just had a meeting with the business leaders of South Korea. And these are not only business leaders here, they’re business leaders throughout the world. They are among the greatest businesspeople anywhere in the world. We went through a lot — Lotte, Samsung — so many that are so — Hyundai — so many that are so respected.
And we talked and we had a fairly short meeting, unfortunately. I wish it could have been longer. But these are very, very highly…
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Remarks by President Trump in Press Conference | Osaka, Japan - North Korea, China, and Japan
[PRESIDENT TRUMP:] I understand that we may be meeting with Chairman King — Kim. And we’ll find out. We spoke with the people. Kim Jong Un was very receptive. He responded. And so, we’ll see. Because tomorrow we’re going to the DMZ. I said, “While I’m there, I’ll shake his hand.” We get along. There’s been no nuclear tests. There’s been no long-range ballistic tests. Gave us back our hostages, which was great. And a lot of good things are happening over there. [...]
So, with…
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Remarks by President Trump and Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Before Working Breakfast | Osaka, Japan - North Korea and China
"Q Mr. President, will you meet with Kim Jong Un tomorrow at the DMZ?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, I put a — I’ll be going to South Korea. We’re going with President Moon. We were with the President in Japan for a little while, and we spoke. And all I did is put out a feeler if he’d like to meet.
He sent me a very beautiful birthday card. And I just — what I did is — and he — I guess he got my…
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Remarks by President Trump Before Marine One Departure - China and North Korea
"Q Are you confident that you will reach a trade deal with China?
THE PRESIDENT: There’s a possibility. I’m meeting with Russia. I’m meeting with China. I’m meeting with many countries. We’re meeting with many countries. We have many things — we’ve been ripped off by everybody over the years. They’re not ripping us off anymore. A big difference right now.
We’re meeting with China. Just so you know, China has been paying us billions and billions of dollars. Until I got here, they never…
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Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo Remarks to Press - North Korea
"SECRETARY POMPEO: [...] And then last night there was reporting about a letter that was sent from President Trump to Chairman Kim. I can confirm that that letter was, in fact, sent. And I am hopeful that this will provide a good foundation for us to begin to continue the important discussions with the North Koreans to denuclearize the peninsula. [...]
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, can you talk a little bit more about the sanctions that the government plans to unveil, what sectors of the Iranian economy…
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Text of a Notice to the Congress on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to North Korea
"On June 26, 2008, by Executive Order 13466, the President declared a national emergency with respect to North Korea pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the existence and risk of proliferation of weapons-usable fissile material on the Korean Peninsula. The President also found that it was necessary to maintain certain restrictions with respect to North Korea that would otherwise…
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Message to the Congress on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to North Korea
"TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:
Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days before the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national…
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Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo at the 2019 Trafficking in Persons Report Launch Ceremony - China and North Korea
"Some of these governments allow human traffickers to run rampant, and other governments are human traffickers themselves.
In North Korea, the government subjects its own citizens to forced labor both at home and abroad and then uses proceeds to fund nefarious activities.
In China, authorities have detained more than a million members of ethnically Muslim minority groups in internment camps. Many are forced to produce garments, carpets, cleaning supplies, and other goods for domestic sale."
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President Trump's Interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos - North Korea
"STEPHANOPOULOS: Yeah. One year ago today, we were in Singapore right after your meeting with Kim Jong Un. And you told me that you trust him. And you also put out that tweet. "There's no longer a nuclear threat from North Korea." But they-- there is a nuclear threat today, isn't there--
TRUMP: Well, it could change. I would say not much. There's been no testing, no anything. But it could--
STEPHANOPOULOS: But they have stockpiles.
TRUMP: --change, George. It could change. And when it…