In remarks late Tuesday afternoon, President Trump revealed the United States was in high-level talks directly with the North Korean government and had given the okay for South Korea to negotiate an official end to the decades-long state of war. These were major developments on the world stage but the evening broadcasts of ABC, CBS and Spanish-language networks Univision and Telemundo flat out ignored them. Only NBC Nightly News thought it was important enough to inform their viewers about.
“There is breaking news from President Trump tonight at a critical meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Florida. The President revealing that high-level talks have begun between the U.S. and North Korea,” announced anchor Lester Holt at the start of the segment.
As NBC Chief White House correspondent Hallie Jackson explained, the talks between the U.S. and North Korea were a “milestone” because it was the first time the two countries have spoken that way in “nearly two decades.”
“Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un face to face, maybe in May or June, the President says. As he confirms high-level direct talks happening now with the North Korean regime,” she reported. “No North Korean leader has ever met with a sitting U.S. president. So, if Donald Trump does, it would be a major milestone.” Even though it was a historic moment, Jackson had a lot to complain about.
She huffed that President Trump was “granting dictator Kim Jong-un the legitimacy he craves.” It was a point some say went out the window when three presidents let the rogue state obtain nuclear weapons and reportedly the ability to hit Washington, DC with them.
Jackson did, however, note that “to pave the way, the North Koreans are in talks with South Korea, apparently given the green light by the U.S.” “South Korea is meeting and has plans to meet with North Korea to see if they can end the war, and they have my blessing on that,” Trump said in a clip. The president also said that they have not picked a final location for the talks to occur but did have it narrowed down to five possible locations.
NBC also brought on George W. Bush-era National Security Council member Victor Cha to bemoan Trump’s negotiating tactics:
This is usually something that comes at the end of a negotiation process. It's not something at the very beginning, which will only incentivize the North Koreans to believe they have been accepted as a nuclear weapons state and will keep their weapons.
That complaint came even though the U.S. had made it clear they wanted denuclearization.
Not long after the network evening broadcasts were off the air, The Washing Post reported that CIA Director Mike Pompeo actually made a secret trip to the communist regime to meet with Kim personally. “CIA Director Mike Pompeo made a top-secret visit to North Korea over Easter weekend as an envoy for President Trump to meet with that country’s leader, Kim Jong Un, according to two people with direct knowledge of the trip,” the paper reported.
Instead of reporting on the historic talks, ABC's World News Tonight reported on a baby gorilla at the National Zoo and CBS Evening News highlighted the North Pole Marathon.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
NBC Nightly News
April 17, 2018
7:07:05 PM Eastern [1 minute 55 seconds]LESTER HOLT: There is breaking news from President Trump tonight at a critical meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Florida. The President revealing that high level talks have begun between the U.S. and North Korea. A lot of major issues to hammer out before a potential summit between the President and Kim Jong-un. Our White House correspondent Hallie Jackson is traveling with the President in Florida.
[Cuts to video]
HALLIE JACKSON: Dominating discussions tonight, not talks with Japan's prime minister, but a different meeting that could come within weeks.
DONALD TRUMP: I look forward to meeting with Kim Jong-un and hopefully that will be a success.
JACKSON: Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un face to face, maybe in May or June the President says. As he confirms high level direct talks happening now with the North Korean regime. For the first time in nearly two decades.
TRUMP: We've also started talking to North Korea directly. We have had direct talks at very high levels. extremely high levels.
JACKSON: No North Korean leader has ever met with a sitting U.S. president. So, if Donald Trump does, it would be a major milestone. Granting dictator Kim Jong-un the legitimacy he craves.
TRUMP: We have not picked the site yet. But we picked five sites where it's potentially going to be.
JACKSON: To pave the way, the North Koreans are in talks with South Korea, apparently given the green light by the U.S.
TRUMP: South Korea is meeting and has plans to meet with North Korea to see if they can end the war, and they have my blessing on that.
VICTOR CHA: This is usually something that comes at the end of a negotiation process. It's not something at the very beginning, which will only incentivize the North Koreans to believe they have been accepted as a nuclear weapons state and will keep their weapons.
[Cuts back to live]
JACKSON: In those talks here in south Florida, with the Japanese prime minister trade could be a tension point with President Trump pushing for a one on one agreement. Lester?
HOLT: All right Hallie Jackson, thank you.
