SINGAPORE — President Donald Trump, the former reality television star with a knack for theatrics, tried a dose of Hollywood drama as he sought to sway North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during their historic summit.
Using an iPad, Trump said, he showed Kim a short video made on his behalf, laying out the opportunities that could come with an agreement to eliminate North Korea's nuclear arsenal — a story about "two men, two leaders, one destiny."
Reminiscent of a movie trailer, the film shows images of warplanes and artillery while a narrator suggests in English and Korean that "a new world can begin today, one of friendship, respect and goodwill."
"We had it made up. I showed it to him today, actually during the meeting, toward the end of the meeting and I think he loved it," Trump said during a news conference. The video was broadcast on big screens at the start of Tuesday's press conference.
Trump said the video was played for about eight members of the North Korean delegation, "and I thought they were fascinated by it." The president added: "That could very well be the future."
"I showed it because I really want him to do something," he said.
Long an authoritarian state, North Korea has used propaganda films to shape public perception of its leaders, often portraying Kim and his family as gods. The current leader's father, Kim Jong Il, was a longtime movie buff who had thousands of titles in his film collection and once led North Korea's ministry of propaganda.
Trump, who starred on NBC's reality show "The Apprentice" before entering politics, told reporters he was "not concerned at all" that the film could be used as propaganda, adding, "We could use that video for other countries."
