Rodman: ‘ It’s a great day’
SINGAPORE — Former Chicago Bull Dennis Rodman openly wept on television in a live interview from Singapore as President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met for the first time.
Rodman is one of the few westerners to have spent time with Kim during multiple visits to Pyongyang, and the two struck up an unlikely friendship over their shared love of basketball. Rodman also goes back years with Trump and appeared on his “Celebrity Apprentice” show.
In an interview with CNN’s Chris Cuomo, Rodman, wearing sunglasses and a “Make America Great Again” hat, said he had received a call from a person from the White House; he later told the AP it was press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
“She called me and said, ‘ Dennis, Donald Trump is so proud of you. He thanks you a lot.’ And that means a lot,” said Rodman.
Rodman grew emotional as he recalled former President Barack Obama failing to take him seriously when he returned from Pyongyang with a message from Kim.
Rodman said Obama “just brushed me off” and “didn’t even giveme the time of day.”
He expressed hope that Trump and Kim would be able to make progress.
“We don’t need a miracle. We just need the doors to be opened so we can start fresh,” he said, telling Cuomo, “it’s a great day” and exclaiming: “I’m so happy!”
Describing Kim, Rodman said, “This guy wants to be around the world, he wants to come to America, he wants to enjoy his life, he wants his people to enjoy this life,” adding Kim is “not a dumb man.”
Rodman suggested he helped lay at least the groundwork for the summit, joking to AP that he “‘ should be pushing for the Nobel Peace Prize. At least give me a piece of it, something like that. An honorable mention.”