Basketball Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman will reportedly be in Singapore later this month for the planned summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, according to the New York Post.
Rodman has developed a strange friendship with Kim over the last few years, and he is one of the few American citizens who have made multiple trips to North Korea to meet with the leader. The Post reports that "The Worm" is expected to arrive in Singapore on June 11, just a day before Trump's sit down with Kim.
“No matter what you might think about his presence. One thing’s for sure the ratings will be huge,” a source said, according to the New York Post. “A lot of times in situations that involve complex diplomacy countries like to identify ambassadors of goodwill and whether you agree with it or not Dennis Rodman fits the bill.”
It's unclear if Rodman will have any role at all in the negotiations, and some suggest he's merely going as a publicity stunt, but the Washington Post notes it's not unthinkable Rodman could serve as an icebreaker between Kim and Trump. Des Bieler writes, "As far-fetched as that may sound to some, it’s not at all out of the question, particularly if the role is to help break the ice between Kim and Trump. Having been a contestant twice on Trump’s reality-TV show, “Celebrity Apprentice,” and having been to North Korea five times since 2013, he’s one of the few people on the planet to have met both leaders, let alone be on friendly terms with them."
Trump and Kim will reportedly meet at a luxury resort on Sentosa Island, where Trump hopes to secure a nuclear deal with the North Koreans, seeking for Kim to give up his nuclear program, according to reports.