An online capture of an op-ed by Dr. Grant Newsham in the Asia Times, titled: "Will U.S. President Donald Trump be satisfied with securing money, or will he acknowledge the grim reality of the U.S.?" 

Grant Newsham, an attorney and member of an international election observation mission visiting South Korea, stated that the congratulatory message sent by the White House and the State Department following the June 3 early presidential election was "a gut punch to Koreans who have long yearned for freedom." He urged President Donald Trump to take a clear stance ahead of the upcoming U.S.-ROK working-level bilateral talks. 

Newsham, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel and expert on East Asian affairs, wrote in the Asia Times on the 23rd (local time) that "the Trump administration is mired in confusion following South Korea's early presidential election." He expressed his frustration over the lack of consistency in policy toward the Korean Peninsula and the administration's lukewarm response to allegations of election fraud. 

He noted that since Lee Jae-myung took office, "the White House claimed the ROK-U.S. alliance is 'ironclad' and declared the election to be 'free and fair.'" He added, "Although they expressed concern over Chinese interference in democracy, the State Department sent a congratulatory message to Lee Jae-myung nonetheless." 

Dr. Grant Newsham. Newsham stated, "South Korean citizens are facing intimidation and lawsuits," citing the public disclosure of extensive and substantial evidence of election fraud during the June early election, as well as the 2020, 2022, and 2024 elections. 

He criticized the current administration, which controls both the National Assembly and the media, for dismissing such evidence as "baseless conspiracy theories" without ever conducting a proper investigation. He questioned, "Has anyone from the White House, the State Department, or the U.S. Embassy actually investigated that evidence? Have they even met with South Korean civic groups? They clearly have not." 

He lamented the situation, stating, "The South Korean police recently raided the 'Freedom and Innovation' party of former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, whose only 'crime' was advocating for fair elections." He added, "It is reported that police are also investigating Morris J. Staton, former Ambassador for International Criminal Justice, who visited Korea through Incheon Airport last month and has been emphasizing the strengthening of election transparency in South Korea." 

Accordingly, he suggested that President Trump has an opportunity to set things right when he meets with Lee Jae-myung next week. 

Newsham emphasized, "However, if President Trump chooses the 'easy' path by overlooking American principles for the sake of trade deals and investment, no one should be surprised if the 'ironclad' ROK-U.S. alliance begins to falter." 

Do not be blinded by Lee's 'true colors' regarding $350 billion in investments and defense cost-sharing 

In his op-ed, he began by saying, "There is no reason for Lee Jae-myung, who took the helm of government amidst widespread allegations, and U.S. President Donald Trump to be in total agreement." He pointed out, "With the meeting scheduled in Washington on the 25th, President Trump must not be distracted by promises of $350 billion in Korean investment in the U.S. or potential increases in defense cost-sharing, thereby overlooking the fact that Lee Jae-myung does not regard President Trump or the United States favorably." 

He continued, "Lee Jae-myung, who has shown leftist tendencies throughout his life, has demonstrated closeness to China and North Korea and has never praised the United States." He noted, "He has referred to U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) as 'occupiers' and showed tolerance for China’s stance on Taiwan. Furthermore, Lee clearly favors North Korea, enough to have allegedly funneled $8 million illegally to the North during his time as Governor of Gyeonggi Province—a case for which his close associates have already been convicted." 

He further noted, "He opposed the deployment of THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense), which would more effectively protect USFK and South Korea itself, and recently praised Vietnam for achieving unification by fighting against 'foreign forces.' In this context, 'foreign forces' refers to the U.S. and South Korean troops deployed to Vietnam," he retorted. 

He stressed that the U.S. must not be fooled by superficial optics. "Because Lee Jae-myung speaks positively about the ROK-U.S. alliance and trilateral security cooperation following his electoral success, many U.S. observers predict he will lead the nation as a pragmatist and centrist," he said, adding, "I do not doubt that President Trump understands that no matter how good his words are, they cannot undo a lifetime of behavior." He expressed concern that "Lee and his followers may be masking their true intentions behind the soft language they use toward Western governments." 

He added that one can better understand the nature of the Lee Jae-myung administration by looking at the past actions of Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae. Newsham noted, "Kim Min-seok was a radical student activist leader at Seoul National University in the 1980s and was imprisoned for three years for his involvement in the illegal occupation of the U.S. Information Service in Seoul in 1985, as well as for anti-state and pro-North Korean activities." He added, "The U.S. refused to issue him a visa, and he is known to have claimed that the COVID-19 pandemic was the fault of the U.S." He also took a direct shot at the Democratic Party leader, stating, "Jung Chung-rae led the occupation of the U.S. Ambassador’s residence in 1989, served two years in prison, and still follows a hard-core radical path." 

Newsham mentioned former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife as figures President Trump should truly empathize with. He interpreted the situation as follows: "The Lee Jae-myung administration is persecuting the former President and his wife, subjecting them to harsh conditions. The goal appears to be 'to break—if not kill—one or both' of them, and to intimidate the political opposition." 

He concluded, "What Lee Jae-myung has done to former President Yoon and his wife is similar to what the U.S. Democratic Party did to former President Trump and his family for standing up for the American people against the dominance of 'bi-coastal elites.' The broader goal of Lee Jae-myung and his party is permanent one-party rule, and one of their strategies is to manipulate the election process."