Trump is awarded an honorary black belt by South Korean president of taekwondo - and pledges to wear the full martial arts suit in U.S. Congress if he makes it back to the White House
Kukkiwon, also known as World Taekwondo Headquarters, and home of the World Taekwondo Academy, has awarded former U.S. President Donald Trump a 9th Dan Black belt - the highest level attainable by professional martial artists.
The president of Kukkiwon, Lee Dong-seop, went to visit Trump at his home in Mar-a-lago in Palm Beach, Florida this weekend to give him a taekwondo and the coveted black belt.
'I heard that the Donald Trump is highly interested in taekwondo,' Lee said.
Former President Donald Trump received an honorary black belt and certificate at Mar-A-Lago on Friday from Kukkiwon president Lee Dong-seop
Former President Donald Trump was pictured signing his autograph on a taekwondo outfit
Kukkiwon president Lee Dong-sup awarded the an Honorary 9th Dan Certificate to Trump
It's believed the visit was set up by a South Korean resident in the U.S.
'It is my pleasure and honor to receive this honorary certificate. Taekwondo is a great martial art for protecting oneself in these times,' Trump said.
The former president vowed that he would look to wear the taekwondo clothing in Congress should he make a return to the White House in the future.
Other members of the Kukkiwon organization that represents taekwondo were all present
'It is my honor to receive the Honorary Dan Certificate and I think taekwondo is magnificent martial art for self-defense,' Trump is said to have responded in a statement
Trump's awarding at a ninth Dan means he shares the same rank as Russian president Vladimir Putin who was presented with a black belt and made a grandmaster of taekwondo in 2013
Russia's President Vladimir Putin during a training session with the Russian national judo team at the Yug-Sport Training Center in 2019
Half a dozen photos could also be seen on the wall of Trump's Florida mansion including one of him shaking hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at Panmunjom as the pair met at the border in the Demilitarized Zone in June 2019.
Earlier that month, another picture showed him meeting the Queen in early June of the same year.
Also from that visit, a framed photo sees Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump pictured walking to greet the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in London. The First Lady can be seen in a bright flowing orange dress.
U.S. President Donald Trump, salutes while arriving to a U.S. Coast Guard Change-of-Command Ceremony at the Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C. in June 2018
President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump walk to the entrance of Winfield House to greet the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in London in June 2019
President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un shake hands as they meet at the border in the Demilitarized Zone in Panmunjom, South Korea
An imitation sculpture of the iconic Mount Rushmore was could be spotted with the addition of Trump's head blended into the topography
Another photo sees Trump, saluting a U.S. Coast Guard Change-of-Command Ceremony at the Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C. in 2018.
In another serious photo, Trump and Melania can be seen at the front door to the White House as they prepared to welcome the Colombian President and his wife in February 2019.
Central to the selection of iconic pictures is one of Trump waving as he boarded the presidential aircraft Air Force One which happened countless times during the course of his presidency.
An imitation sculpture of the iconic Mount Rushmore was could be spotted with the addition of Trump's head blended into the topography.
President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, joined by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, place their hands on their heart for the national anthem during a welcome ceremony at Buckingham Palace in June 2019
President Trump waves as he steps off Air Force One upon arrival for a campaign rally
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump prepare to welcome Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez and his wife in February 2019 at the South Portico of the White House
Former President Donald Trump congratulated Kyle Rittenhouse on being acquitted on all five charges related to the fatal shooting of two men and the wounding of a third
Trump's awarding at a ninth Dan means he shares the same rank as Russian president Vladimir Putin who was presented with a black belt and made a grandmaster of taekwondo during an official visit to South Korea in 2013.
Despite not actually practicing taekwondo himself, Putin also managed to achieve the coveted rank.
On Friday night, Trump congratulated Kyle Rittenhouse after the teenager was found not guilty of murder in the fatal shooting of two men in racial justice protests.
The verdict divided America. As the left denounced the outcome as a miscarriage of justice, the right said Rittenhouse never should have been put on trial.
'Congratulations to Kyle Rittenhouse for being found INNOCENT of all charges,' said Trump in an emailed statement.
'It's called being found NOT GUILTY—And by the way, if that's not self defense, nothing is!'
A fundraising appeal followed.
'This trial was nothing more than a WITCH HUNT from the Radical Left,' said an email to supporters, directing them to donate to the online WinRed platform.
'They want to PUNISH law-abiding citizens, including a CHILD, like Kyle Rittenhouse, for doing nothing more than following the LAW.'
Jurors found Rittenhouse, 18, not guilty on all charges: two counts of homicide, one count of attempted homicide for wounding a third man, and two counts of recklessly endangering safety in protests marred by arson, rioting and looting on August 25, 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Rittenhouse shot and killed Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and fired a bullet that tore a chunk off the arm of Gaige Grosskreutz, 28. Rittenhouse claimed self defense
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