Trump’s Midterm Campaign and Plans Beyond

While the president is busy rallying support for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections, it seems he might already be considering his post-election plans.

On Thursday, President Trump made appearances in Texas and Oklahoma, but he also took a moment to reconnect with a longtime friend, Dennis Rodman, who has a colorful history in both states.

When visiting Peterbilt Motors in Denton, Texas, Trump spotted Rodman in the audience. He referred to him as “the greatest guy” and mentioned their long friendship.

Rodman, who attended North Central Texas College and Southeastern Oklahoma State, was acknowledged by Trump during the Texas rally. Following their meeting, communications adviser Margo Martin shared a video of their interaction, with Trump calling Rodman “the best rebounder in the history of basketball.” Rodman affectionately responded by labeling Trump as “my friend.”

A source close to Rodman told a publication that Trump is keen to renew his dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after the midterms. The source mentioned, “Trump wants to refocus again on North Korea and start talking about Kim Jong Un.”

It appears Rodman sees himself as a goodwill ambassador between North Korea and the U.S. The source added that as Trump considers his next steps, he’s been reaching out for advice, and Rodman is among those he’s consulting.

Interestingly, a Washington Post reporter noted that Rodman reportedly had a falling out with Kim Jong Un during his last visit, allegedly due to excessive drinking. Thus, this has led to speculation around Rodman’s ongoing influence on North Korean diplomacy.

An official from the White House commented that during his first term, Trump held three significant summits with Kim that helped stabilize the region. The official stated that Trump’s approach to North Korea continues to focus on open communication without any preconditions.

During his Texas tour, when a reporter inquired whether Trump was working on any peace efforts with North Korea alongside Rodman that day, Trump responded, “We have a good relationship, and you’re not going to have any problems — so long as I’m here.” He added a cautionary note about potential challenges that might arise if someone else were to take his place.

Rodman was also accompanied by his girlfriend, a rapper known as Yella Yella, who humorously interacted with Trump at the event.

As for Rodman himself, at 65 years old, he reportedly rode with Trump’s motorcade to Oklahoma and expressed a desire to chat with the president about “life.” When asked about a potential visit to North Korea, he jokingly told a reporter, “If you buy the ticket.”