CNN Confirms 32 Errors in Trump's Remarks on Defense Costs

"Korea Pays Too Little for Defense Costs Claim Is Wrong"
"Statements Not Based on Facts on Various Issues"

U.S. media recently criticized former President Donald Trump for numerous inaccuracies in his remarks about South Korea's defense cost-sharing. CNN reported on the 5th that an analysis of Trump's recent Time magazine interview identified at least 32 errors.

Earlier, in a Time interview released on the 30th of last month (local time), Trump suggested that there was no reason to help a wealthy country like South Korea and hinted that if South Korea did not increase its defense cost-sharing, U.S. troops stationed in South Korea could be withdrawn. He claimed that before his administration, South Korea contributed almost nothing to defense costs and that even now, through renegotiations with the Joe Biden administration, South Korea is paying very little.

Because of this, concerns have been raised that if Trump is re-elected, he may pressure South Korea for a significant increase in the defense cost-sharing for U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, potentially leading to withdrawal or reduction of U.S. forces. During his tenure, Trump had pressured South Korea to bear nearly the full cost.

However, CNN pointed out, "Former President Trump claimed that South Korea paid too little for the defense cost-sharing of 40,000 U.S. troops until he negotiated a better deal, but as of late 2016, just before he took office, the number of U.S. troops in South Korea was 26,878, and as of late December 2018, just before the Trump administration signed a new defense cost-sharing agreement, the number was 29,389."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

CNN also noted that the claim that South Korea paid almost nothing before Trump's administration is incorrect. CNN explained, "South Korea paid $867 million in defense cost-sharing for U.S. troops in August 2014 and agreed to increase this amount linked to inflation until 2018," adding, "According to a report by the U.S. Congressional Research Service (CRS) last year, South Korea generally covers 40-50% of the costs of stationing U.S. troops, excluding personnel expenses."

They further criticized the claim that the Biden administration allowed South Korea to pay virtually nothing, stating, "The assertion that the Biden administration let the South Korean government pay almost nothing is far from the truth." They pointed out that Trump's statement that South Korea agreed to pay billions during his tenure and that "now that I'm gone, they are paying almost nothing" is not factual.

CNN explained, "South Korea is paying more through negotiations with the Biden administration than during the Trump administration," adding, "In 2021, South Korea increased its defense cost-sharing by 13.9%, paying nearly $1 billion, and agreed to further increases linked to defense cost hikes from 2022 to 2025."

In addition, CNN cited other instances where former President Trump made factually incorrect statements on a wide range of issues, including the scale of the U.S. trade deficit with China, the number of deaths during the January 6 Capitol riot, NATO contributions, the 2020 presidential election, his relationship with Russia, and judicial risks.