Former President Donald Trump made headlines on Tuesday when he appeared to confuse the leaders of North Korea and Iran during a press conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Trump claimed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was 'basically trying to kill me,' referencing a situation where the US Secret Service had to prioritize protecting foreign heads of state over him during a planned outdoor rally.
Trump expressed frustration over the Secret Service's mandate to protect all foreign leaders on US soil, citing an incident where he had to change the location of his rally due to a shortage of resources caused by the protection of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during his visit to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently highlighted the US government's vigilance in monitoring threats from Iran against current and former US officials. There have been concerns within law enforcement about potential assassination attempts by Iran targeting former Trump officials and the ex-president himself.
Despite the confusion, Trump has previously praised Kim Jong Un as a leader he had a good relationship with during his time in office. Kim did not attend the UN General Assembly, distinguishing him from the Iranian president who was present at the event.
This mix-up is not the first time Trump has made such errors, as he previously confused Iraq and Iran during the same press conference in Wisconsin. The incident underscores the importance of accurate communication, especially when discussing sensitive diplomatic matters involving foreign leaders.
