Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) on Monday sharply criticized President Trump's recent comments about North Korea, calling his approach "delusional" and warning that his decisions on military posture in the region are undermining deterrence.
In an interview on MSNBC's "State of Play," Reed said Trump's tendency to fawn over authoritarian leaders while dismissing allies is a dangerous pattern. "The president, in that sense, is delusional. He has this egomania that says every powerful figure in the world must bow down to me," Reed said, drawing parallels to Trump's relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "That's exactly the approach he took to Putin, when he took over. The Ukrainians, he dismissed, he said, 'You don't have the cards,' etcetera."
Reed's comments came after Trump announced on Truth Social that he had instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, calling them costly and provocative. Trump also noted that Seoul declined to join Washington's efforts to denuclearize Iran, a remark that Reed said revealed a transactional view of alliances.
"There was this relationship with Putin, and we know how that is going on. And it's the same situation with North Korea," Reed said. "Kim Jong Un is not, I think, terribly impressed with Donald Trump. And withdrawing forces from Korea, canceling exercises, plays into his game."
The annual U.S.-South Korea drills, which typically occur in spring and summer, are designed to bolster the alliance and ensure readiness against regional threats. Last week, North Korea warned that the exercises were "a rehearsal for an aggressive war," according to the Associated Press.
Trump, however, dismissed those concerns, writing on Truth Social that the exercises "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." He also highlighted his friendly relationship with Kim, saying the North Korean leader has been cooperative.
Reed, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, rejected that characterization. He argued that reducing the exercises would be a concession to Pyongyang without any reciprocal commitments, echoing warnings from military experts who have called the move an unforced error.
The controversy comes as Seoul seeks to manage the fallout from the planned reductions, which could weaken the combined defense posture. Trump's decision has also drawn criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, with some questioning whether he is prioritizing personal relationships over strategic interests.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
