On August 19, 2026, President Trump suggested that his positive relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may be influenced by North Korea's nuclear capabilities. Trump stated, "He has 57 very powerful nuclear weapons. Should have never allowed it to happen, but he’s got them. I get along with him very well... As long as we have a smart president, he’s gonna be fine." He indicated that a good relationship with Kim could enhance safety for neighboring countries such as South Korea and Japan, but expressed discontent with military exercises conducted by the U.S. that he felt were antagonistic towards North Korea.
Trump's remarks followed his decision to reduce joint military training with South Korea, which he justified by claiming that such drills were inappropriate and hostile towards North Korea. He also mentioned plans to meet with Kim later in the year. Trump's comments have been interpreted as a message to Iran, suggesting that if Iran possessed nuclear weapons, it might have fostered a more amicable relationship with his administration, potentially avoiding ongoing conflicts that have resulted in civilian casualties. This perspective implies that countries may feel pressured to pursue nuclear capabilities to avoid conflict with the U.S. administration.