White House Gold Key gifted by Trump [Kang Hoon-sik, Chief of Staff's Facebook]Articles claiming that President Donald Trump gifted a White House gold key to Lee Jae-myung quickly flooded multiple media outlets.

This incident came to light on the 24th (Korean time) when Kang Hoon-sik, the Presidential Chief of Staff, shared on Facebook that "President Trump conveyed special regards to President Lee while conversing with Ambassador to the US Kang Kyung-wha on the 16th."

According to Chief of Staff Kang, President Trump stated, "I received a very precious gift during my visit to Korea in October, and I wish to send a special gift in return," and sent the last remaining gold key out of five that were produced to President Lee.

President Trump also added, "I really like President Lee," and mentioned that "a strong cooperative relationship has been formed between the two leaders," Chief of Staff Kang reported.

However, internet searches reveal that the number of gold keys gifted by Trump is far greater than five.

Korean media outlets have reported that recipients of these keys so far include Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, The Washington Post (WP) reported in April 2020 that President Trump presented a key to Elaine Chao, the then-Secretary of Transportation.

In its article, WP pointed out that Trump gifting a White House key to former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso in 2024 was noteworthy, as Aso was no longer in office as president at the time.

If the Korean media reports are accurate, Trump would have already given away all five keys. This raises the question: "Whose key was taken to be given to Lee Jae-myung?"

Furthermore, Elaine Chao is the wife of Mitch McConnell, who has been criticized as a 'RINO' (Republican In Name Only) for his anti-Trump stance. Her father has also faced scrutiny for accumulating wealth through business dealings with China.

According to a Business Insider report, on April 16, 2020, President Trump not only presented a key to Secretary Chao but also to four truck drivers, who represented their profession during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trump's Gold Keys Also Appeared in Auctions and Were Sold to the Public

The history of these gold keys dates back to President Trump's first term, specifically to 2020.

The first appearance of this commemorative key was on September 16, 2020, when it was presented to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to the website of political memorabilia collector Lori Ferber, the gold keys "were produced in limited quantities and presented to key White House staff and special guests, accompanied by a wooden case and an outer box."

The description also states, "This limited edition product had a small release on the market and sold out quickly upon its release. This may be your last chance to add it to your collection or gift it to someone who loves rare items. This is an authentic item."

The price listed for the gold key on this website is $2,495.

In addition to this site, records of the gold keys being sold can be found on auction sites such as eBay and RR Auction. While an auction appears to be ongoing on eBay, RR Auction lists a sale for $3,670 on September 13, 2023.

RR Auction described the sold gold key as coming from "the personal collection of an associate of President Donald Trump."

A Gift is Just a Gift... But What's the Real Intention Behind Publicizing the Gold Key?

The crucial issue is why this gift of keys is being widely publicized through the media at this particular time. Some suggest that it is an attempt by the Lee Jae-myung administration to pour cold water on the hopes of numerous conservative citizens who are expecting help from the U.S.

The intention, they argue, is to trample on the "hope from America" held by the Korean people by showcasing how close Trump and Lee Jae-myung are.

It is also pointed out that while the gift of a gold key may be precious and valuable, it should not be over-interpreted as an absolution or a pardon.

On May 30, 2025, Elon Musk received the gold key from President Trump at the White House, appearing with bruises on his face. Musk later parted ways with Trump, and they were seen expressing dissatisfaction with each other a few days later.

According to reports, the gold key was presented on September 16th. This was before the federal hearings on the online platform fairness law in the Korean National Assembly and the cancellation of trade representative meetings. It is noteworthy that this occurred before any signals of cracks in the ROK-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.

The White House considered the joint announcement on the ROK-U.S. FTA as another of Trump's achievements, and President Trump habitually mentioned that South Korea would invest $350 billion wherever he went. In fact, he even stated that South Korea's total investment in the U.S. exceeded $600 billion. From President Trump's perspective, this could be considered sufficient merit to warrant a gold key. However, this does not excuse everything.

Amidst ongoing reports suggesting that the Trump administration is preparing to seriously address issues of electoral fraud on January 2026, there are continuous suggestions that South Korea should also be prepared.

Meanwhile, the Lee Jae-myung administration is spreading the narrative through the media that "Trump is on Lee Jae-myung's side." It appears to be a show of strength.

NNP=Sung Ku Hong, Editor-in-Chief / Special Correspondent NNP info@newsandpost.com