MSNBC anchor Chris Hayes called the announcement of a meeting between President Trump and North Korea leader Kim Jong Un “a quintessential Trump [White House] news event,” on Thursday, but voiced skepticism about the meeting’s impact.
Hayes, a primetime host of MSNBC’s “All In with Chris Hayes,” made the comments just after the White House announced that Trump and Kim would meet “by May” in an effort to negotiate the denuclearization of North Korea.
“Tonight’s North Korea announcement is the quintessential Trump WH news event,” wrote Hayes to his 1.57 million followers. “It’s definitely news! It’s surprising! It could be a big deal! But who knows if it means anything at all? Remains a challenge to figure out how best to cover.”
South Korea’s national security adviser Chung Eui-yong made the announcement in a statement outside the White House Thursday night after meeting with Trump and administration officials.
“President Trump appreciated the briefing and said he would meet Kim Jong Un by May to achieve permanent denuclearization,” Eui-yong told reporters.
The president also took to Twitter to hail the unprecedented meeting.
“Kim Jong Un talked about denuclearization with the South Korean Representatives, not just a freeze,” Trump wrote to his 48.4 million followers. “Also, no missile testing by North Korea during this period of time. Great progress being made but sanctions will remain until an agreement is reached. Meeting being planned!”
If Trump meets with Kim, he would become the first U.S. president to ever meet with a North Korean leader while in office.
A location for the meeting is still being planned.