President Trump arrived in South Korea on Thursday, 30 October, where he received a golden crown, the country’s highest medal, and a gold‑themed dessert amid protests.
Golden Theme of the Visit
During a working lunch in Gyeongju, President Trump was served a gold‑styled dessert— a brownie and mandarins adorned with gold flakes on a plate inscribed “PEACE”.
Earlier, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung presented Trump with a replica of the historic Silla Golden Crown, and Trump arrived in a gold tie that his office said symbolised a “golden future” for bilateral relations.
Top Honor and Political Accents
Trump became the first U.S. president to receive South Korea’s highest decoration, the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, awarded for actions promoting peace on the peninsula.
During the trip he attended the APEC summit, where customs‑policy topics were discussed; he also pledged a forthcoming trade agreement with Seoul.
Lee sought U.S. approval to acquire fuel for planned nuclear‑powered submarines.
Luxury and Controversies
The visit, brimming with opulence—from gold accents to wines from Trump’s family vineyard—triggered small groups of demonstrators in Gyeongju who opposed his “authoritarian style” of leadership.
Nonetheless, South Korean officials expect stronger economic and defence ties with the United States, and Trump is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, 30 October.
