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GYEONGJU: President Donald Trump may be facing protests back home calling for “no kings” in the United States, but in South Korea officials had the perfect gift for the monarch-loving magnate — a replica golden crown.
Trump met South Korean counterpart Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday, part of a visit in which he is expected to hold tense trade talks with China’s Xi Jinping.
And capping a lavish welcome ceremony in the historic South Korean capital of Gyeongju, Trump was presented with a replica of a crown worn by the kings of Silla, the dynasty that ruled from 57 BC to 935 AD.
The gift from South Korea was a replica of “the largest and most extravagant of the existing gold crowns” from the Silla period, Trump was told.
It represented “the divine connection between heavenly and earthly leadership.”
Seoul’s presidential office said the crown symbolizes “peace, coexistence, and shared prosperity on the peninsula — values that mirror the Silla dynasty’s long era of stability.”
Trump has made no secret of his love of monarchies the world over.
Americans rallied across the country this month in opposition to what organizers call Trump’s “king-like” presidency and erosion of democratic norms in the United States.
Trump mocked the rallies on social media, sharing AI-generated posts showing himself wearing a crown while flying a fighter jet emblazoned with the words “King Trump” dumping faeces on protesters.
The US leader was also presented in South Korea with the Grand Order of Mugunghwa — the country’s highest decoration.
The medal had a laurel leaf design that symbolizes prosperity and it was given “in anticipation of the peace and prosperity you will bring to the Korean peninsula,” Trump was told.
“It’s a great honor,” the US president said.
“I’d like to wear it right now.”
Trump’s love of gold is also well-known and he was gifted gold-plated golf balls during a visit to Tokyo this week.
South Korea’s presidential office said Wednesday’s state dinner for Trump will include a “gold-themed dessert” symbolising the “alliance’s enduring trust and the two nations’ shared commitment to peace and prosperity.”

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE: President Donald Trump said Wednesday he is “not allowed” to run for a third term, acknowledging the limits laid out in the US Constitution.
Trump and his supporters have repeatedly raised the question of a 2028 presidential run for the 79-year-old, drawing concern from his foes and cheers from backers.
“I have my highest poll numbers that I’ve ever had, and you know, based on what I read, I guess I’m not allowed to run, so we’ll see what happens... It’s too bad,” Trump said on Air Force One.
The US Constitution limits presidents to two terms, and Trump began his second in January.
Trump, who served his initial term from 2017 to 2021, often mentions that his supporters have called for him to govern beyond his current tenure, despite the constitutional restriction.
The former reality TV star has also recently displayed red hats emblazoned with the slogan “Trump 2028” on a desk in the Oval Office.
A popular theory among his supporters is that Vice President JD Vance could run for president in 2028 on a ticket with Trump.
Trump ruled that idea out this week, and on Wednesday said it was “pretty clear” he couldn’t run again.
“But we have a lot of great people,” he said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters on Tuesday at a news conference at the Capitol that he spoke with Trump about seeking a third term but doesn’t “see the path for that.”
“It’s been a great run, but I think the president knows, and he and I’ve talked about, the constrictions of the Constitution,” Johnson said.
“There is the 22nd Amendment,” Johnson added, saying that while Trump enjoys taunting Democrats with slogans and hats with “Trump 2028” emblazoned on the front, the Constitution is clear.
“I don’t see a way to amend the Constitution because it takes about 10 years,” Johnson added.
“You’d need two-thirds of Congress and three-fourths of the states to ratify (it). I don’t see the path for that.”
Talk of a third term came after Steve Bannon, Trump’s former adviser and one of the key ideologues of the Make America Great Again movement, last week said “there is a plan” to keep him in the White House.
“He is going to get a third term... Trump is going to be president in ‘28. And people just ought to get accommodated with that,” Bannon told The Economist.
Asked about the 22nd Amendment, which mandates term limits, Bannon said: “There’s many different alternatives. At the appropriate time, we’ll lay out what the plan is.”