From “Biden the senile” to “Trump the US ruler”: How Trump-Kim friendship turned North Korean propaganda respectful to the US leadership

Unlike in past periods of strained U.S.–North Korea relations, when North Korea’s state media referred to the U.S. president in harsh terms, they are now using notably “respectful” language when referring to current President Donald Trump. While bilateral ties remain tense, observers suggest this shift in tone may reflect the special personal rapport between Workers’ Party General Secretary Kim Jong-un and President Trump.

On August 5, the Workers’ Party’s official newspaper Rodong Sinmun published an article titled “Rejecting U.S. Pressure Tactics,” in which it reported on the U.S. response to India and Russia’s oil trade. In the article, Trump was referred to as the “U.S. ruler.” The article stated, “The U.S. ruler threatened in July that India would face additional punishment if it purchased Russian weapons and oil, and more recently claimed that India would no longer buy Russian oil.” It continued, “However, Indian government sources have said that they will continue purchasing Russian oil despite U.S. threats,” and added, “On August 1, a spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that India maintains a strong and time-tested partnership with Russia.”

Since the start of Trump’s second term in office this January, Rodong Sinmun has used the term “U.S. ruler” ten times, mostly in articles related to international affairs such as the Trump administration’s trade wars, immigration bans on certain nationalities, and the Iran situation. On January 22, just three days after Trump’s official inauguration, Rodong Sinmun briefly reported, “Donald Trump has been inaugurated as President of the United States.” As Rodong Sinmun is a publication accessible to the general population, its relatively neutral tone toward Trump likely shaped public perception that North Korean authorities are “not hostile” toward the U.S. president.

On July 29, an aggressive anti-U.S. statement was released in the name of Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Department Director of the Workers’ Party, via the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). However, this statement was published only online and not broadcast on media platforms accessible to the general North Korean public, such as newspapers or Korean Central Television. In contrast, during the Biden administration, North Korean media frequently hurled harsh insults at then-President Joe Biden, calling him a “dotard,” “senile fool,” and “Yankee.” Such rhetoric has noticeably disappeared during the Trump administration. This change appears to reflect the fact that Trump was the first sitting U.S. president to meet Kim Jong-un at the 2018 summit and that both leaders have acknowledged their continued personal rapport.

A spokesperson from South Korea’s Ministry of Unification commented on Rodong Sinmun’s use of the term “U.S. ruler,” stating, “Since the start of Trump’s second term, North Korea has been noticeably more polite and cautious in its terminology and tone when delivering messages concerning the United States.”