Commemorative North Korea summit coin selling at a discount
A commemorative coin designed to honor President Trump’s “peace summit” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was selling for a discounted rate Thursday afternoon.
The collectible was originally available for $24.95 plus shipping through the White House gift shop, but a few dollars were knocked off the price shortly after Trump canceled the event the coins were minted to recognize.
The President pulled out of the peace talks Thursday morning, citing North Korea’s “tremendous anger and open hostility” toward the United States — but the summit’s cancellation hasn’t stopped the White House from peddling the seemingly irrelevant collectible.
“The coin will be made whether or not the summit occurs as scheduled because the theme is coming closer to peace and celebrates the act of communication among countries,” according to a message from the gift shop.
The White House Communications Agency released the commemorative “trip coin” weeks ahead of the would-be summit, slated for June 12 in Singapore. It features Trump and Kim facing each other in front of their countries’ flags, the words “Peace Talks” written in gold across the top.
It’s reveal earlier this week prompted ridicule and criticism, with many accusing the White House of celebrating the summit just a little bit too early.
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A former adviser for President Trump’s 2016 campaign blasted the White House on Twitter Thursday afternoon for jumping the gun on its memorabilia.
“Who’s the idiot in the WH that green-lit those commemorative coins for a summit that almost certainly wasn’t going to happen?” A.J. Delgado wrote. “Amazing.”
Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Tuesday said the White House was not behind the collectible, telling reporters it was “standard procedure” for the White House Communications agency to create the coins to commemorate the president’s oversea trips.
The coin also sparked backlash for recognizing Kim as “supreme leader” — a title not typically acknowledge by the United States.
“I urge the White House to take Kim off the coin,” Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer tweeted earlier this week.
“Challenge coins are a time honored tradition and certainly appropriate in this situation, but Kim Jong Un’s face has not place on this coin.”
The souvenir is still currently selling online for $19.95, plus shipping. A receipt upon purchase suggests it will be shipped in the next few months.
