On the 25th (local time), President Lee Jae-myung gifted a fountain pen, which he used to sign the White House guest book, to U.S. President Donald Trump. President Trump showed interest in the pen, prompting President Lee to offer it as an impromptu gift.
Before the summit, President Lee moved to the location directed by President Trump to sign the guest book. President Trump even helped by pulling out a chair for President Lee to sign comfortably. As President Lee signed, President Trump pointed to the pen used and asked, 'Is that pen the one you brought yourself?' To which President Lee replied, 'Yes, it is.'
President Trump expressed interest, saying, 'Where is it made? I really like the thickness. It's truly impressive.' He then jokingly asked, 'Are you going to take it back?' President Lee gestured with both hands to take it and stated, '(The pen) is made in Korea. It will be useful for the difficult signatures you make,' and presented it as a gift.
President Trump said, 'Though I won't use it, I will cherish it proudly,' and added, 'I will also give a gift to the President and the delegation.' He then noted, 'I might forget,' and asked Lee Yeon-hyang, the interpreter and a Director General from the U.S. State Department, to 'remember to remind me to give a gift.' In response, President Lee mentioned, 'There is a gift I would like from President Trump,' saying, 'It was a gift received by Prime Minister Ishiba, an album.'
Earlier, on Feb. 7 at the White House during the U.S.-Japan summit meeting, President Trump gifted an album to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The cover of the album featured an image of President Trump raising his fist to the crowd shortly after surviving an assassination attempt during an election campaign in July last year.