Trump claims Alaska record and presses Korea on LNG investment before midterms
In short
US President Donald Trump said in videos posted to Truth Social on October 3 that he had brought more to Alaska than anyone in human history, and endorsed Alaska Republicans ahead of November midterm elections. He also pressed Korea over the Alaska LNG project, saying on October 2 that if Seoul did not agree soon he would “double it”. Korean outlets note that US officials have said Korea will invest more than $50 billion, while Korea’s government says no investment decision has been made.
Read the full story 2 min read
US President Donald Trump said in videos posted to Truth Social on October 3 that he had brought more to Alaska than anyone in human history, adding that “nothing and no one has come close to my record”. He called the Alaska LNG project the largest energy project in Alaska’s history and said it would create more than 13,000 jobs and save Alaska households up to $1,400 a year in energy and other costs. [ 1 , 3 ]
In the same videos he endorsed Alaska Republicans — Senator Dan Sullivan, whom he called a “true patriot”, a “proud Marine” and an “America First warrior”, and Representative Nick Begich — and urged voters to go to the polls. Alaska is traditionally a Republican stronghold, but some opinion polls cited in the reports show Democratic candidate Mary Peltola ahead of Sullivan. [ 1 , 3 ]
The Alaska LNG project is at the centre of a disagreement between Washington and Seoul. Hankook Ilbo reported that Trump unilaterally announced that Korea would invest $50 billion in the project, while Korea’s government says an investment decision has never been made. Seoul Economic Daily reported that at the White House on September 30, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Korea had decided to take part and would put in more than $50 billion; it said Korea’s position is that it will review whether to pursue the project on the premise that commercial viability is secured and domestic legal procedures are observed. [ 1 , 3 ]
Trump kept up the pressure on October 2, telling reporters at the White House that he was fine if Korea did not want to take part, that “we will just charge them more”, and that Korea should be told the sum would be doubled if it did not agree soon, according to the reports. [ 1 , 2 ]
Seoul Economic Daily reported that Trump also used another video to encourage early and mail voting, calling the midterms “the most important election in history” and urging an overwhelming Republican win over the “radical left Democrats”, with appeals also to voters in New Mexico, Arkansas and Pennsylvania. In a further video he proposed paying nearly $100 within days to more than 20 million Medicare beneficiaries from a Medicare improvement fund, after earlier promising $5,000 to all US adults financed by tariff revenue if Republicans win both chambers. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The dispute leaves the terms of Korea’s possible participation in the Alaska LNG project unresolved, with US officials describing a commitment that Seoul says does not exist. Trump’s use of the project in Alaska campaign messaging, and his threat to raise the price, make the issue a live test of Korea-US dealmaking ahead of the November US midterms.
Key facts
- Trump said in Truth Social videos on October 3 that he had brought more to Alaska than anyone in human history, and that nobody had come close to his record. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Trump called the Alaska LNG project the largest energy project in Alaska’s history and said it would create more than 13,000 jobs and save Alaska households up to $1,400 a year in energy and other costs. [ 1 ]
- Trump endorsed Republican Senator Dan Sullivan and Representative Nick Begich of Alaska, calling Sullivan a “true patriot”, a “proud Marine” and an “America First warrior”. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Korea’s government says it has never decided whether to invest in the Alaska LNG project; Trump announced that Korea would invest $50 billion, and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Korea would take part with more than $50 billion. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Trump told reporters at the White House on October 2 that he was fine if Korea did not want to take part and that it should be told the price would double if it did not agree soon. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Some opinion polls cited by Korean outlets show Democratic candidate Mary Peltola ahead of Sullivan in Alaska. [ 1 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Trump said he had brought more to Alaska than anyone in human history and endorsed Dan Sullivan in videos posted on Truth Social. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Korea’s government position is that no investment decision has been made on the Alaska LNG project. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Trump warned that the price would be doubled if Korea did not agree soon. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Some opinion polls show Democrat Mary Peltola leading Republican Senator Dan Sullivan. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Korea has committed to invest $50 billion in the Alaska LNG project. The documents disagree: Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick are reported as saying Korea decided to invest, while Korea’s government says the matter was never decided.
- Which polls show Mary Peltola leading Dan Sullivan, and by how much. The documents refer only to “some opinion polls” without naming a pollster or giving figures.
- Whether the Alaska LNG project will proceed, and on what terms. No document states a decision or timeline for the project itself.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Hankook Ilbo reports Trump’s October 3 Truth Social videos, his claim to have brought more to Alaska than anyone, and his October 2 remarks pressing Korea on the LNG investment. [ 1 ]
- Korea Economic Daily reports that Trump again pressed Korea over the Alaska LNG project and warned he would “double it” if there was no swift agreement. [ 2 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reports Trump’s Alaska campaign push, the September 30 White House announcement of the project and his plan to pay Medicare beneficiaries. [ 3 ]