Former basketball star Dennis Rodman and celebrity liaison to North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un believes that Kim and President Donald Trump may strike up a deal sometime in the near future.
Appearing on “Fox & Friends,” Rodman predicted that President Trump would make a deal with Kim despite the fact that peace talks collapsed in Vietnam and issued an even bolder prediction: The North Korean dictator would visit America.
“I think he can [make a deal],” Rodman said, as reported by Fox News. “I think the fact that people better watch out for this: Kim Jong Un will be in America in 18 to 24 months. I guarantee it.”
When co-host Brian Kilmeade asked if this visit from Kim Jong Un would be an actual state visit, Rodman replied, “He’s coming to do one thing, to visit America.”
Rodman, who has visited North Korea on several occasions and even refers to Kim Jong Un as his “friend,” has been an outspoken supporter of Trump’s North Korea policy. In June of 2018, as the president and the dictator were gearing up for the first peace summit, the former Chicago Bulls champion even appeared on CNN wearing a MAGA hat and broke down into tears.
“In my heart and soul, when I was first selected to go to North Korea, I was very honored to be selected to go there,” Rodman said at the time. “Once I went to North Korea, I didn’t really understand what the situation was as far as being over there. When I first met Kim Jong Un, I was more like, I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know who he was; I didn’t know what he represented; I didn’t know if he was someone important, but I knew something was going on. But once I got familiar with the culture and the situation over there, I got used to being there and I felt like I was at home.”
At one point, Rodman even said that Kim Jong Un wanted “progress in his country” and knew his people had a “heart and soul.”
“I think that country is normally hearing people that [are] always lying, deceitful, and not trustworthy, and that if Trump goes in there with a great heart, with his heart on the table, and let Kim Jong Un see him, really emotional, as far as speaking to him.” he said. “He’s (Kim) all about the 21st century, he’s trying to progress his country.”
“I believe in North Korea,” Rodman said through his tears. “I think people know that Kim Jong Un is not a dumb man. I think he understands who his grandfather and his father are, and I think that he’s trying to protect his people, and he’s trying to protect his honor and everything that has to do with his country.”
The “bromance” between Rodman and Kim Jong Un began in 2014 when he visited North Korea to play basketball for the dictator’s birthday. One odd clip that went viral at the time even featured Rodman singing “Happy Birthday” to Kim in a basketball arena with spectators applauding him.