Trump Invites Basketball Star Rodman, Who Is Close to North Korean Chairman Kim, to Campaign Rally; Focus on Whether He Is Sounding Out U.S.-North Korea Talks

[Financial News] Former NBA star Dennis Rodman accompanied President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Texas. With Dennis Rodman, who is well known for his close relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, invited to appear at President Trump's campaign event, speculation is growing that the U.S. government may be seeking to reopen a channel of dialogue with North Korea.
On the 1st (local time), Rodman joined the scene ahead of President Trump's evening rally in Denton, Texas, where he spent his college years. The appearance, first reported by the New York Post, came as Trump left open the possibility of meeting Kim again this year and prepared to engage with North Korea.
Rodman, who won five championships with the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls, appeared in shiny black pants, Crocs, and a T-shirt printed with his own face. He greeted senior government officials, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, adding star power to the event.
During his speech at the Peterbilt Motors plant in Denton, President Trump mentioned Rodman and praised his past contribution to diplomacy with North Korea.
President Trump said, "When I wanted to get to know Kim Jong Un, the person who knew him best was Dennis Rodman," adding, "That was because North Korea invited Rodman to be the coach of its basketball team." He continued, "Rodman is a special person and the greatest rebounder in basketball history."
When President Trump told him in a private meeting, "You still look great," Rodman replied, "My friend, my friend." The encounter was captured in a video shared on X, formerly Twitter, by White House spokesperson Margo Martin.
A close associate of Rodman said, "After the midterm elections, President Trump wants to refocus on North Korea and resume dialogue with Kim Jong Un." The associate added, "Rodman believes he is a goodwill ambassador between the U.S. and North Korea, and President Trump also considers Rodman one of the key people he consults as he refines his plans."
A day earlier, the New York-based U.S. outlet Riboched New York reported that President Trump intended to restart a dialogue channel with North Korea after the midterm elections in November. It was reported that he invited Rodman to a rally in Durant, Oklahoma, for that reason. Durant is also connected to Rodman because he attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University there in the 1980s.
It has not yet been decided whether Rodman will take the stage and deliver a speech alongside President Trump, and the plan could change depending on the president's schedule.
After retiring from professional basketball, Rodman visited Pyongyang at least five times between 2013 and 2017 and met Kim Jong Un on several occasions. He drew attention by publicly calling Kim his "lifelong friend." Trump's relationship with Rodman also began in 2009, when Rodman appeared on the second season of The Celebrity Apprentice, a television program hosted by Trump.
President Trump said last August that he intended to meet Kim Jong Un again this year. On the 29th, he called Kim his "friend" while speaking to reporters at the White House and mentioned that North Korea possesses nuclear weapons.
During his first term, President Trump held two summits with Kim Jong Un: in Singapore in June 2018 and in Hanoi in February 2019. In June 2019, he met Kim at the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), crossed the military demarcation line, and briefly set foot on North Korean territory.
However, the two leaders have not met since President Trump was reelected. Trump is scheduled to visit the Philippines and China in November to attend summits of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Some have even raised the possibility that he could visit North Korea, but this has not been officially confirmed.
[email protected] Yoon Jae-jun Reporter