Trump Orders Cut to U.S.-South Korea Military Exercises, Citing Kim Ties

Trump directs Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to substantially reduce joint drills with South Korea, saying the exercises send a hostile signal to North Korea.

First Published: August 16, 2026, 1:16 PM ET

WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald Trump, the U.S. president, ordered a substantial reduction in joint military exercises with South Korea, saying the drills send a hostile signal to North Korea and its leader, Kim Jong Un.

The directive targets exercises Trump said the United States had long ago agreed to conduct alongside South Korea, a treaty ally that hosts thousands of American troops. Trump said much of the cost falls on the United States and that the drills undercut a relationship he described as friendly and respectful.

Here is the full post on truthsocial: “Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, I am not happy with the fact that the United States has, long ago, agreed to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea. These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile, to a Country that, as long as Trump has been President, has been unthreatening and respectful. Therefore, and based on the fact that it is too late to cancel, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to substantially reduce the Joint Military Exercises! While somewhat unrelated (?), I recently asked the President of South Korea if they would like to join us in the Denuclearization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they said, “No thanks!” Thank you for your attention to this matter. Trump” on August 16, 2026 at 5:04 PM ET.

This is Trump’s 11th message released today, and the last post came moments earlier, and it is not part of a thread. On average, Trump produces 18 posts per day since his inauguration on January 20, 2025. The move fits a broader pattern in Trump’s recent messaging, with 62 of his 537 posts over the last 30 days classified as Foreign Policy posts.

Trump instructed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to carry out the reduction, saying it was too late to cancel the exercises outright. The president framed the decision as a signal to North Korea, which he said has stayed unthreatening during his time in office. He tied the order directly to his stated relationship with Kim Jong Un.

The directive to scale back the drills aims to preserve Trump’s relationship with the North Korean leader, according to truthsocial. The move highlights escalating tensions over defense costs and regional security strategy. It remains unclear how the reduction affects readiness and the broader U.S. alliance in East Asia.

Who gains and who loses from the change is contested. A smaller exercise schedule would lower costs Trump said the United States bears, and it could ease friction with Pyongyang. Fewer drills could also strain confidence among South Korean defense planners who rely on the exercises to test combined readiness.

Trump added that he recently asked the president of South Korea to join the United States in the denuclearization of Iran, and that the answer was “No thanks!” He labeled the point as “somewhat unrelated” in the same post.

The next decision on how far the exercises will shrink rests with Hegseth, who received the order to implement the reduction. A specific date for the revised exercise plan has not been announced.