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[I don’t get what your point.
You want Trump to simply March into North Korea and grab their nuclear weapons?
Yeah that will work a treat.
In reality Trump has imposed the toughest sanctions ever on North Korea. Plus met Kim three times to try and work things out. He’s done far more than any US President to try and reach peace with North Korea.
Outside of war that’s all he can do. Negotiations backed with tough sanctions.]

I’m saying the verbal servility makes him look bad from an electoral standpoint even though he is, in reality, kicking them under table. The media is stressing the servility, which has an effect on national security voters who are part of the GOP coalition.

“American in Tokyo” is fairly well-informed, well to the right of the typical GOP voter, but disgusted by it. What are independent voters who are far less well-informed and right-wing supposed to think? We know Biden is a far left loon like Obama who talks tough while giving the farm away. But all the average independent voter who doesn’t follow the news much has to go on is “my good friend Xi/Kim/Putin”, which the media hammers home day after day, rather than Trump’s very hard-nosed actions vis-a-vis the countries they rule over.

You forget that when Trump assumed power there was plenty of loud angry insults between Trump and Kim. The Dems and the media were freaking out with “Trump is going to get us in a nuclear war”
The Governor of Hawaii deliberately sent out a false alarm of an incoming nuclear missile from North Korea to stoke up mass hysteria. People called their loved ones and bade them good bye.
How we forget all that time.
This is no time for Trump to start exchanging insults with Kim again. Tough sanctions plus hard negotiations. It's a good thing he got rid of Bolton who never fought a war in his life, but then has never seen a war he didn't want to send other people's sons to.
Way I see it, Trump will eventually reach an agreement with Kim. Just not in his first term.

... the average independent voter who doesn’t follow the news much...
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Aren’t those the voters who want ‘more civility’ from POTUS?
A ‘more presidential demeanor’?

Progs never trash their own unless it’s personal, as in one wants the position the other has. We, on the other hand, shoot ourselves in the foot all the time.

You and some of the others have a better grasp of the macro politics than I do and certainly more than the average independent or reflexive R voter. But those voters just want to feel they can ignore politics because everyone is ‘really friends’ behind the scenes.

OTOH, POTUS can overdo the ‘we’re really great friends’ schtick.

I have had my say on this issue for over 21 years here on FreeRepublic. I have added I think a lot to the discussion. Not as comprehensive perhaps as “TigerLikesRooster” , (another former FReeper), but I have had my say, more or less—with hard evidence and facts. There is no more arguing with people who either a) cannot see the realities of North Korea; b) follow a cult leader over a cliff, and hang their every position (shifting even) based on the position he adopts at the moment. There is no pursued and adhered to grand strategy here. No moral vision or guiding principles. Only reelection and looking good for the cameras (and the dictator knows this and skillfully milks it to the max). It can be proven seven ways to Sunday. But it will get you suspended or even banned on this forum, so that’s just the way things are.