On the eve of joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea, President Trump has pulled an abrupt pivot and ordered Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to "substantially reduce" the drills, citing both the costs and what he sees as an unnecessarily hostile signal to North Korea.
The president made the directive in a Sunday evening Truth Social post, saying he wasn't "happy" that the U.S. had "long ago" agreed to these "costly" exercises for which the American taxpayer foots "much of the cost." Because the exercises – officially called the 2026 Ulchi Freedom Shield – are set to begin Monday and it's too late to cancel, Hegseth has been ordered to cut back on the scope of the ten-day event.
(The annual drills are part of a U.S.–South Korean military partnership dating back more than 70 years to the 1953 Mutual Defense Treaty, though the exercises have evolved and changed names over the years.)
Of note, President Trump hinted that part of the reason for cutting back on the joint exercises with South Korea was due to his "very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea."
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 16, 2026
Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, I am not happy with the fact that the United States has, long ago, agreed to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea. These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile, to a Country that, as long as Donald J. Trump has been President, has been unthreatening and respectful. Therefore, and based on the fact that it is too late to cancel, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to substantially reduce the Joint Military Exercises! While somewhat unrelated (?), I recently asked the President of South Korea if they would like to join us in the Denuclearization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they said, “No thanks!” Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP
The last part of the president's message is sure to raise some eyebrows: "While somewhat unrelated (?), I recently asked the President of South Korea if they would like to join us in the Denuclearization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they said, “No thanks!”"
Putting allies on notice that America's military commitments are not a one-way street has long been part of Trump's foreign-policy approach – one that he's kicked up several notches in his second administration – and his decision to specifically mention South Korea's refusal to help with the denuclearization of Iran was not accidental.
If Seoul isn't willing to step up when the U.S. asks for help confronting a nuclear threat, the president is putting them on notice that the U.S., likewise, has no interest in footing the bill to keep the status quo going on the Korean Peninsula.
Of note: On Friday, North Korean state media aired a message from North Korea’s Foreign Ministry calling the joint exercise between the U.S. and South Korea a ""rehearsal for an aggressive war” that is triggering a different level of instability in the region."
“It is our consistent principle of ensuring security to respond to a new level of a threat with a new level of a deterrent,” the statement said. North Korea “will more clearly express its stance on the enemies to cope with any threats and challenges through the responsible and decisive exercise of the right to legitimate self-defense.”
Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump and his administration’s bold leadership, we are respected on the world stage, and our enemies are being put on notice.
Help us continue to report on the administration’s peace through strength foreign policy and its successes. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member