South Korea welcomes Trump with its highest award, a golden crown and ketchup

[douglas9]

GYEONGJU, South Korea, Oct 29 (Reuters) - South Korea welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday with a replica gold crown and awarded him with the "Grand Order of Mugunghwa", the country's highest decoration, the presidential office said.

Trump landed in South Korea on the final leg of a trip through Asia that also saw stops in Malaysia and Japan, with high-profile trade talks expected with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

U.S. and South Korean warplanes escorted Air Force One on approach, and on the tarmac a South Korean military band greeted Trump with a rendition of "YMCA" and guns fired a salute.

Lee is hoping to win concessions from Trump in drawn-out negotiations aimed at lowering U.S. tariffs on South Korea, and has wooed the U.S. president by praising his outreach to North Korea.

Lee's office said that in recognition of Trump's role as a "peacemaker" on the Korean peninsula, he was awarded the "Grand Order of

Mugunghwa", which is named after South Korea's national flower, a pink hibiscus also known as the Rose of Sharon in English.

I'd like to wear it right now," Trump said when presented with the glittering award. A South Korean official said he was the first U.S. president to receive the honour.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-award-trump-its-highest-medal-gift-him-golden-crown-2025-10-29/

[Miguelito Loveless]

1. If there are any asteroids out there,

please finish us off.

[Deep State Witch]

2. Ugh

And after the Koreans at the Hyundai plant in Georgia were treated like criminals.

[dweller]

3. Uh oh ... now you've done it

The Pisswig will expect a crown from every country he visits
😐



✌🏻

[Volaris]

4. Who wants bets on 'he will wear it at next cabinet meeting'.

And his tablefull of bootlickers will tell him how wonderful it is.

[SheilaAnn]

5. I had to check to be sure this wasn't the Onion.n/t

[underpants]

6. Ketchup

The leaders had a working lunch that included Thousand Island salad dressing, in what Lee's office said was a nod to Trump's "success story in his hometown of New York." The meal also included local specialties "according to President Trump's preferences."
On the menu were "mini beef patties with ketchup", a "Korean Platter of Sincerity" featuring U.S. beef and local rice and soybean paste, and grilled fish with a glaze of ketchup and gochujang, a red chilli paste.
The lunch was capped by a "Peacemaker's Dessert" consisting of a brownie adorned with gold.

[synni]

7. I'm beginning to understand why South Koreans are complaining about their president

Giving their highest honor to a convicted feIon?

[jmbar2]

8. Trying to grovel to keep him from admiring Kim Jong Un?

"We'll crown you king before Kim does".

It would be like him to pit them against each other.

[tanyev]

9. Oh boy, Donny's gonna want to wear that crown everywhere he goes.

[LudwigPastorius]

10. Note to South Korea:

You're not helping.