Retired colonel knocks Trump order to cut back on 'critical' joint exercises with South Korea
The Hill · C · trust 42/100
Comments: by Max Rego - 08/17/26 11:03 AM ET Comments: Link copied by Max Rego - 08/17/26 11:03 AM ET Comments: Link copied NOW PLAYING Retired Air Force Col. Cedric Leighton on Sunday suggested President Trump made “an unforced error” in ordering the Pentagon to scale back its joint exercises with the South Korean military.
Leighton said the change “could have some serious impacts” on America’s relationship with South Korea, as well as Japan.
“South Korea is a critical ally for us. And, oh, by the way, they pay for a large portion of those exercises. They also pay for the upkeep of U.S. troops in South Korea. So the idea that we’re paying for everything there is absolutely false,” Leighton told host Brian Abel on “CNN Newsroom.”
The president said Sunday he instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to “substantially reduce” the joint military exercises with South Korea, set for Monday through Aug. 27.
“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 Donald J. Trump has been President, has been unthreatening and respectful,” Trump wrote on Truth Social , referring to North Korea.
Dating to his first term, the president has touted his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The two leaders met three times during Trump’s first term but have not met in person during his second term.
Trump said Sunday he had a “very good relationship” with Kim, adding he was “not happy” the U.S. and South Korean governments agreed to participate in joint exercises decades ago.
But Leighton characterized Trump and Kim’s relationship as “ephemeral at best” and expressed concern about the U.S. leader putting “stock” in their connection.
“The things that we do in those exercises are critical for the joint defense, not only of South Korea and Japan, but also for defense of the United States as well,” added the former Air Force colonel, who retired in 2010. “And ... in this particular situation, what you’re seeing is the North Koreans are getting an advantage, really an unforced error on our part.
“And it’s going to damage the relationship that we have with the South Koreans. And that’s not a good thing.”
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