Skip to main content
Tags: mercedes schlapp | donald trump | kim jong un | korea

Mercedes Schlapp: Trump's 'Maximum Pressure' Worked on NKorea

Mercedes Schlapp: Trump's 'Maximum Pressure' Worked on NKorea
In this file photo, Mercedes Schlapp, left, arrives with White House adviser Kellyanne Conway at the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, in February 2017. (Photo: Mike Theiler/AFP/Getty Images)

By    |   Saturday, 21 April 2018 11:25 AM EDT

The "maximum pressure campaign" President Donald Trump has put on North Korea has caused its President Kim Jong Un to step back and away from its nuclear and missile testing activities, White House Director of Strategic Communications Mercedes Schlapp said Saturday.

"It clearly shows President Trump's vision in focusing on denuclearizing North Korea, making sure there's stability in the region that is actually becoming reality," Schlapp told Fox News' "Fox and Friends." "What we're seeing right now is that this maximum pressure campaign that the president has put on North Korea has basically had the "Rocketman," the North Korean dictator step back."

Also, Kim has started feeling the impact of economic sanctions, said Schlapp.

"Remember, this wasn't just President Trump doing this alone,' she commented."This is working with global allies. We just saw President Trump with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe from Japan, basically talking about this issue of North Korea and saying we need to move forward to ensure there is stability in the region, and it's working.'

She pointed out that looking back at Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, there were concessions made, but no "real progress."

"Right now, what we're seeing is real progress" toward the denuclearization of North Korea, Schlapp said.

Schlapp also said that with North Korea's actions, it's clear that CIA Director Mike Pompeo, who met with Kim in North Korea over Easter weekend, needs to be quickly confirmed as secretary of state.

Democrats are opposing Pompeo, a person who is "highly qualified" and has engaged in the high-level talks, said Schlapp, and she doesn't understand why.

"I think this shows that he needs to be confirmed immediately," Schlapp said. "I just don't understand why the Democrats continue to resist on every single action that President Trump does."

Pompeo was voted in as CIA director with support from Republicans and Democrats, she added, and historically, there is bipartisan support when it comes to the secretary of state's office, including with Hillary Clinton and John Kerry.

"The president needs the most highly qualified individuals to serve in these critical positions and that is why I find it to be just so disheartening when you hear some of these Democrats saying they're opposing Mike Pompeo who's incredibly qualified for this job," Schlapp.

Schlapp said there are no details yet about when and where Trump and Kim will hold their summit.

"What's important is to make sure that both leaders are able to get to a strong solution," said Schlapp. "We know right now with adding [former] ambassador John Bolton as our national security advisor,  who basically jumped right into the job, has been a real asset in providing guidance. It's why we need Mike Pompeo to be confirmed immediately. Having Congress push that forward next week is going to be critical and having those players in place and moving forward on the summit to make sure that we again show North Korea that we're with this campaign that we've put on you."

Sandy Fitzgerald

Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics. 

© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

Sign up for Newsmax’s Daily Newsletter

Receive breaking news and original analysis - sent right to your inbox.

(Optional for Local News)
Privacy: We never share your email address.

Newsfront
The "maximum pressure campaign" President Donald Trump has put on North Korea has caused its President Kim Jong Un to step back and away from its nuclear and missile testing activities.
mercedes schlapp, donald trump, kim jong un, korea
504
2018-25-21
Saturday, 21 April 2018 11:25 AM
Newsmax Media, Inc.
Join the Newsmax Community
Read and Post Comments
Please review Community Guidelines before posting a comment.
 

Interest-Based Advertising | Do not sell or share my personal information

Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. American. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc.

NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© 2025 Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Download the Newsmax App
NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© 2025 Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved