Trump Claims Kim Called Biden Mentally Retarded

President Donald Trump claimed on Monday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un once referred to former President Joe Biden as a "mentally retarded person," during a White House press conference focused on escalating tensions with Iran.

The remarks came as Trump expressed frustration with U.S. allies for not supporting American military efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which he said had been closed following U.S. strikes against Iran. Speaking to reporters, Trump highlighted the U.S. troop presence in Asia, noting 50,000 soldiers in Japan and 45,000 in South Korea to deter North Korean threats. "We have 45,000 soldiers in South Korea to protect us from Kim Jong Un, who I get along with very well, as you know," Trump said. He added that Kim "said very nice things about me" but had been harsh toward Biden. "He used to call Joe Biden a mentally retarded person, OK?" Trump stated. He repeated the assertion, saying of Biden, "He's a mentally retarded person. He was so nasty to Joe Biden, it was terrible. But to me, he likes Trump."

The comments appeared to underscore Trump's emphasis on personal diplomacy with adversarial leaders. He has frequently cited his past interactions...