Dennis Rodman Is Worming His Way Into the U.S.-North Korea Summit

The NBA legend is planning to join Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump in Singapore next week.

When Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un arrive in Singapore for the historic summit planned for June 12, the only man who can claim both of them as friends will also be in town. 

Former NBA wild child Dennis Rodman is planning to be in Singapore during the meeting, the New York Post reported.

Rodman might even play a role in the negotiations, one source told the tabloid. 

“No matter what you might think about his presence. One thing’s for sure the ratings will be huge,” a source said. “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.”

As both a two-time contestant on The Apprentice and a five-time visitor to North Korea, Rodman is in a unique position to serve as a go-between for Trump and Kim. Of course, it would be insane to let him anywhere near these high-stakes negotiations, but it wouldn’t be the only insane thing about this summit, so why the hell not?

Rodman’s relationship with Kim goes back to 2013 when he and a three members of the Harlem Globetrotters went to North Korea with a Vice documentary crew. They were there to conduct what they called “basketball diplomacy.”

Four years prior to that, he became friendly with Trump after appearing for the first time on The Celebrity Apprentice. He was eventually fired for misspelling Melania Trump’s name. 

In early 2014, he returned to North Korea with former NBA players including Vin Baker, Craig Hodges and Doug Christie. On that trip, Rodman showed that he understood how to debase himself in font of a brutal dictator. 

In June of 2017, Rodman returned to North Korea for the first time in three year and brought with him a gift: a copy of President Trump’s book The Art of the Deal.

In an interview with TMZ in April, Rodman credited Trump’s book with helping Kim to understand the president. “When I was…there the last time for his birthday I gave him Donald Trump’s books, I gave him stuff about Donald Trump and about Americans,” Rodman said. “I think he didn’t realize who Donald Trump was at that time until I guess he could read the book. I don’t want to take all the credit, I don’t wanna sit there and say ‘I did this,’ that’s not my intention.”