President Donald Trump and North Korea Chairman Kim Jong both failed at summit #2 in Hanoi, Viet Nam. It failed because both leaders were not prepared which had its origin in summit #1 that produced nothing in the way of how to proceed in summit #2. Trump's inner circle has said many times the President dislikes to read reports or be involved in details and makes snap decisions.
Kim Jong, younger than Trump and a ruling dictator, supported by China and Russia will not give up his country's nuclear weapons or abandon his military objectives unless he receives something concrete in return. Summit #1 and 2 never produced any real dialog concerning the issues so there was no area of positive compromise to work with. The failure was no great surprise to those who follow politics and past meetings of our past Presidents and adversaries whose preparations were more detailed and constructive.
This writer was struck by the pictures of Trump and Kim Jong shown on TV as they arrived in Viet Nam. Neither had the look of confidence on their face, lacked any smile and had the look of a sullen person getting ready for a funeral. It was not the look of two leaders who would be meeting shortly to forge an agreement concerning a very serious matter.
And after the summit failed Trump was still using words like he and Kim parted ways on positive terms; the walk away was very friendly; there's a warmth that we have, etc, etc, etc. And added, we're positioned to do something very special. N. Korea gave a different version of why the summit failed and a report attributed to our own state department said N. Korea's version was more accurate than Trumps. There was no talk or commitment of a summit #3.
The bottom line is both leaders were not prepared for summit #2 and it showed. The President had a tough week of his own making with the summit and the public hearing in the U.S. House and Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen's testimony. He then attended the conservative convention of CPAC and his speech was laced with personal attacks and lies which has become the norm of this President.
The malignancy in the White House still grows and consumes this President and every thing he touches. Mueller's report and the democratic investigations need to end this President's term sooner rather than later and restore the democratic process.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
