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Mehdi Hasan Spots ‘Embarrassing’ Trump Trait In Action: ‘The World Is Laughing At Him’

Former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan is highlighting one of President Donald Trump’s “embarrassing” traits after Trump appeared hesitant on social media Monday about trade with South Korea — only to “feel very warmly” after President Lee Jae Myung flattered him in person.

“They all know how to play and manipulate him,” Hasan wrote Monday on X with accompanying footage of the moment in question. “It’s so embarrassing for our country. The world is laughing at him and by extension us.”

Jae Myung was certainly on a charm offensive during his Oval Office meeting with Trump, and not only complimented his U.S. counterpart’s garish gold-centric redecoration, but praised him for this year’s record high on the Dow Jones Industrial Average before the flattery truly began.

“I would like to ask for your role in establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula,” Jae Myung told Trump through a translator. “I look forward to your meeting with Chairman Kim Jong Un and construction of a Trump Tower in North Korea and playing golf at that place.”

The comment saw Trump smile in delight, thank Jae Myung “very much” and declare it was “an honor” to meet with him. The tone contrasted starkly with a social media post earlier that morning, in which Trump had written, “WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOUTH KOREA?”

Trump suggested in his Truth Social post that there was a “Purge or Revolution” occurring in South Korea, and that the U.S. “can’t have that and do business there.” Trump later told reporters he “heard there were raids on churches” led by the South Korean government.

While Trump didn’t clarify which incidents he was referring to, South Korean prosecutors did conduct raids last month on the Unification Church. These were reportedly connected to a corruption investigation involving former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s wife.

Jae Myung was elected only a few months ago after his predecessor was ousted, and appeared to purposefully flatter Trump on Monday — months after the MAGA leader infamously berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office.

Jae Myung even praised Trump as a potential “peacemaker” between North and South Korea and vowed to “assist” him in resolving the countries’ decades-long conflict. Monday’s trade talks ultimately concluded with Trump’s 15% tariff on South Korea remaining in place.

Trump has also previously decried how many U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea, but said Monday, “Well, I don’t want to say that now because we’ve been friends and we’re friends.” He also noted the U.S. and South Korea could partner on a lucrative shipbuilding deal.

“I think we have a deal done,” Trump told reporters after the meeting.