A Crown for Trump?
Social media reacts to symbolic gift at APEC summit
Social media users divided over cultural symbolism and political meaning
U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the APEC summit in Gyeongju last week drew international attention after he was presented with a replica of a Silla-era royal crown by South Korean President Lee Jae-myung.
The gift, described by the Blue House as a gesture of friendship and cultural exchange, soon became a lightning rod for debate online, where users argued over whether a golden crown was an appropriate symbol for a sitting U.S. president.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung presented U.S. President Donald Trump with a Silla-era royal crown and the nation's highest medal during the APEC summit in Gyeongju a moment that quickly drew global attention.
Online users were quick to react after images of President Donald Trump receiving a golden Silla-era crown from South Korean President Lee Jae-myung spread across social media.
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One post read, " South Korea gifts President Trump as golden crown — the 'no kings' crowd won't like this." Another user commented, " Look at the Korean president's face. Oh, he knows. He knows exactly what this means."​
Online debates escalated when progressive pages like Occupy Democrats harshly criticized the gift, calling it "a shameless attempt at flattery."
One post read, "South Korea plays Donald Trump like a fiddle by presenting him with a golden crown as America hits rock bottom on the global stage."
The post went on to suggest that Trump "gobbles this cheap flattery up every time." and accused him of "selling out U.S. interests."
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Supporters ,meanwhile, dismissed the outrage.
A post from the account Patriot_45_MAGA joked, " This will likely make the phony 'No Kings' crowd a little mad."
Two of the most viral memes portrayed Trump as a self-proclaimed monarch after receiving the Silla-era crown.
One video showed him stepping off Air Force One in a golden robe and crown, holding a sword like a triumphant ruler.
Another clip placed him on a royal throne against a traditional Korean palace backdrop, with petals falling around him.
Together, the edits mocked his grandiose self-image and highlighted the sbsurdity of treating political power as royalty. Viewers flooded the comments with laughing emojis.
American late-night hosts were quick to turn the moment into comedy. On The Daily Show, Desi Lydic joked, "Hey, South Korea, what the f*** are you doing?" Meanwhil, Jimmy Kimmel quipped, "He got a crown, a medal, and a putter." Both clips went viral on TikTok, where users called the jokes the funniest take on the APEC summit.
Some online users exaggerated the symbolism, claiming the Silla-era crown was a burial item meant for deceased kings.
However, historians note that the crown was symbols of royal authority worn by Silla rulers during life and later buried as part of royal funerary customs —not created solely for the dead.
Korean users reacted with a mix of sarcasm and realism.
One wrote, “What can we do? We have to survive too — another IMF -style crisis would kill us.”one wrote.
Others joked, “We already impeached Yoon. Let’s call it even,” and “We got our nuclear sub deal, so we’re fine.”
Many blamed Americans for the situation, saying, “You voted for him, not us.”
The tone was weary but witty — a reflection of how Koreans often meet politics with humour rather than outrage.
Sources : Korean -lauguage public comment , captured Nov.3-5, 2025 on KNN News (YouTube) . Translations by Eunheui Yim.
The golden crown began as a symbol of friendship,
but online, it became a mirror reflecting how culture, politics and perception collide in the digital age.
Whether seen as diplomacy, satire or spectacle,
the image of Trump in a Silla crown will remain one of the most unexpected moments of this year’s APEC summit.