Director of National Intelligence nominee James Clapper testifies during the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on his nomination on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 20, 2010. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

During an interview with Dana Bash on today’s edition of CNN’s “State of the Union, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said that North Korean dictator “Kim Jong Un may have met his match” with President Donald J. Trump

Clapper made his unusual remark saying something positive about President Trump in response to Bash asking Clapper what he thought about the ongoing back and forth about the summit meeting between President Trump and the North Korean dictator.

Here’s a transcript of the exchange:

BASH: What is your interpretation of this back and forth that’s been going on over the summit?

CLAPPER: I’ve been long an advocate for, and this is typical North Korean, two steps forward, one step back. That’s what they always do. Kim Jong Un may have met his match here with our very unconventional president.

What I’ve been long an advocate for is let’s first establish the conduit, the apparatus for communicating, which I think that would be a real plus for the summit. And by that, I mean establishing interest sections in both Washington and Pyongyang. What this means is a diplomatic presence below the level of a full embassy, much as we did in Havana, Cuba, for decades. This would facilitate, would be reciprocal, would facilitate dialogue we would gain a lot more insight and understanding about what is going on in North Korea would promote information flow into North Korea and importantly give the North Koreans a measure of security. And if they could agree to tone down the rhetoric and use that conduit instead that would be an improvement.

Just a note on denuclearization. Denuclearization coud also be a “two-way street” That is applied to the United States as well, where the North Koreans could expect us to restrict our nuclear umbrella, meaning no more B-1s, B-2s or B-52s deploying on the peninsula or within operational proximity.

Bash also asked Clapper if he thinks it is better for the President to have this summit regardless of whether there is no agreement to just establish the dialogue?” Clapper responded, “I do. Having gone this far, there’s value in meeting and greeting, gripping and grinning and just establishing a rapport. Yes, I think it would be important to have the summit.”

Both of Clappers remarks saying something positive about President Trump, that the north Korean Dictator might have met his match with President Trump and that Trump is right to have the summit even without a denuclearization agreement, are very unusual. Someone must have forgotten to give Clapper the Democrats talking points.

If you haven’t read President Trump’s letter to the North Korean dictator, mentioned by Clapper, you can read it below:

His Excellency
Kim Jong Un
Chairman of the State Affairs Commission
of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Pyongyang

Dear Mr. Chairman:
We greatly appreciate your time, patience, and effort with respect to our recent negotiations and discussions relative to a summit long sought by both parties, which was scheduled to take place on June 12 in Singapore. We were informed that the meeting was requested by North Korea, but that to us is totally irrelevant. I was very much looking forward to being there with you. Sadly, based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting. Therefore, please let this letter serve to represent that the Singapore summit, for the good of both parties, but to the detriment of the world, will not take place. You talk about nuclear capabilities, but ours are so massive and powerful that I pray to God they will never have to be used.
I felt a wonderful dialogue was building up between you and me, and ultimately, it is only that dialogue that matters. Some day, I look very much forward to meeting you. In the meantime, I want to thank you for the release of the hostages who are now home with their families. That was a beautiful gesture and was very much appreciated.
If you change your mind having to do with this most important summit, please do not hesitate to call me or write. The world, and North Korea in particular, has lost a great opportunity for lasting peace and great prosperity and wealth. This missed opportunity is a truly sad moment in history.

Sincerely,

Donald J. Trump
President of the United States of America