Christopher Luxon Holds First One-on-One Meeting with Donald Trump in South Korea
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has held his first in-person meeting with United States President Donald Trump, ahead of the APEC leaders’ dinner hosted by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
The one-on-one meeting between Luxon and Trump took place in a private room near the dinner venue, marking a significant diplomatic moment for New Zealand and the US. Luxon, who had earlier said the meeting was not confirmed, later posted on social media describing it as “good to meet.”
The New Zealand Prime Minister meets the US President for the first time, sharing laughs and light-hearted moments before a key APEC dinner in Seoul.
“New Zealand and the United States have a strong relationship and today we met to talk about how we can make it even stronger,” Luxon wrote.
Following their meeting, the two leaders arrived together at the formal dinner, smiling as they entered while other heads of state were greeted separately. Luxon was welcomed by President Lee, while Trump stood aside, gesturing toward him and saying, “Go ahead.” Trump then pointed to Luxon, saying, “New Zealand — good friend of mine,” before adding, “Nice place.”
Luxon later joked about an exchange with the South Korean president. “He gave me grief about my hair,” Luxon said, prompting Trump to quip, “Your hair is beautiful.” Luxon responded, “I thought so.”
Trump, after greeting President Lee, was asked by US media if he had reached a deal during talks. “We did reach a deal,” he replied, calling it “a great session.” When asked if he had a message for New Zealand, Trump smiled and said, “We should smile,” motioning toward the cameras before adding, “I like your man from New Zealand.”
This marks the first time Trump and Luxon have met face-to-face, following only a phone call earlier in Trump’s presidency.
Inside the dinner room, the setting was described as intimate, with eight leaders in attendance, including representatives from Australia, Canada, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the United States. Each was personally welcomed by President Lee before the traditional “family photo.” Luxon stood between the leaders of Canada and Vietnam, while Trump, the evening’s guest of honour, was positioned in the centre beneath a banner reading, “Special Dinner in honour of President Donald J Trump and State Leaders hosted by President Lee Jae Myung.”
Inside the dinner room, the setting was described as intimate, with eight leaders in attendance, including representatives from Australia, Canada, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the United States. Each was personally welcomed by President Lee before the traditional “family photo.” Luxon stood between the leaders of Canada and Vietnam, while Trump, the evening’s guest of honour, was positioned in the centre beneath a banner reading, “Special Dinner in honour of President Donald J Trump and State Leaders hosted by President Lee Jae Myung.”
Arriving later than the other guests, Trump and Luxon were met with light-hearted comments from their peers. Canada’s Mark Carney joked, “Where are the Kiwis?” to which Australia’s Anthony Albanese laughed in response.
The cordial meeting sets a new tone in the relationship between Wellington and Washington, with both leaders signalling a shared interest in strengthening ties amid an increasingly complex Indo-Pacific environment.