South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said a warm exchange with Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Évian, France, ended with an unexpected promise: a future round of golf together. The remark came after what Lee described as a substantive dinner conversation on peace on the Korean Peninsula and the future of the South Korea–United States alliance.
Lee Says Trump Promised Golf After G7 Talks
President Lee wrote on X that he had dinner with President Trump the previous evening and spent about 90 minutes in “deep” discussions on Korean Peninsula peace and bilateral relations. According to Lee, the conversation produced “many advances,” suggesting that the two leaders used the summit setting for more than ceremonial diplomacy.
Lee also shared a personal detail from the final luncheon of the summit. He said Trump gave him the pen he had been using for signatures, speculating that the gesture may have been inspired by an earlier memory of Lee receiving a pen during their first summit meeting.
The South Korean leader expressed appreciation for Trump’s attention and hospitality, emphasizing that the alliance between Seoul and Washington remained steady. “South Korea–U.S. relations are stable and eternal,” Lee wrote, framing the meeting as both diplomatically meaningful and personally cordial.
Dinner Diplomacy Ends With a Fairway Pledge
The lighter moment came during dinner, when the conversation turned to golf. Lee said Trump suggested playing a round with him and his wife, prompting the first lady to seal the promise with a pinky swear. What Lee initially took as a casual remark appeared to become more serious the next day.
After the final luncheon, Lee said Trump again mentioned that they should “definitely” play golf together. “I thought it was just something said in passing, but it seems I should start preparing,” Lee wrote, adding a humorous note to his account of the summit exchanges.
Lee’s remarks came as he wrapped up a 10-day tour of Europe. After completing his schedule, he departed from Geneva International Airport in Switzerland to return home, carrying with him both diplomatic takeaways from the G7 and, apparently, a golf commitment to keep.
While the summit discussions centered on weighty issues such as regional security and the South Korea–U.S. partnership, Lee’s account highlighted how personal rapport can shape diplomatic encounters. A promised round of golf may be informal, but in this case it served as a symbol of friendly ties following high-level talks.