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---
title: Donald Trump Attacks Chuck Todd on North Korea
description: President Donald Trump on Twitter called NBC&#x27;s Chuck Todd &quot;Sleepy Eyes&quot; after he talked about negotiations with North Korea.
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author: Alix Langone
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article:published_time: 2018-04-22T15:54:23.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:53:29.230Z
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og:title: Here&#x27;s the TV Clip That Sparked Trump&#x27;s Latest Twitter Tirade
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![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte4fc548b0888724d/69892e54096a9466bc6a2305/donald-trump-chuck-todd-sleepy-eyes-twitter.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9)


# Here's the TV Clip That Sparked President Trump's Latest Twitter Tirade About 'Sleepy Eyes' Chuck Todd

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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/PIR7D0Y0.m3u8" -->
## Video: North Korea Says It Has Suspended Missile Testing and Plans to Close Nuclear Site

[Watch (HLS stream): North Korea Says It Has Suspended Missile Testing and Plans to Close Nuclear Site](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/PIR7D0Y0.m3u8) (1:13)

![North Korea Says It Has Suspended Missile Testing and Plans to Close Nuclear Site](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/PIR7D0Y0/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2018-04-21. North Korea said Saturday it has suspended nuclear and long-range missile tests and plans to close its nuclear test site._


by 

[Alix Langone](https://time.com/author/alix-langone/)


## Alix Langone


Apr 22, 2018 3:54 PM UTC

![Meet the Press - Season 69](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte4fc548b0888724d/69892e54096a9466bc6a2305/donald-trump-chuck-todd-sleepy-eyes-twitter.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3:2)

Pictured: (l-r) Donald Trump, Chuck Todd

Pictured: (l-r) Donald Trump, Chuck Todd Scott Eisen - NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images

by 

[Alix Langone](https://time.com/author/alix-langone/)


## Alix Langone


Apr 22, 2018 3:54 PM UTC

President Donald Trump has launched yet another Sunday morning Twitter tear – a familiar practice in the last few weeks – this one aimed at NBC News political director “Sleepy Eyes” [Chuck Todd.](http://time.com/5196689/chuck-todd-donald-trump/)

The tweets came after Todd questioned the Trump Administration’s [approach to negotiations with North Korea](http://time.com/5249087/north-korea-suspend-missile-testing-close-nuclear-site/) in a segment on the _Today_ show ahead of Todd’s _Meet the Press_ hour.

Trump shot back with within minutes: “Sleepy Eyes Chuck Todd of Fake News NBC just stated that we have given up so much in our negotiations with North Korea, and they have given up nothing. Wow, we haven’t given up anything & they have agreed to denuclearization (so great for World), site closure, & no more testing!”

> [](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/988037292932653056)

> [](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/988040227167064064)


Talking to Hallie Jackson, NBC’s chief White House correspondent, on the _Today_ show, Todd said that while [North Korea’s dictator, Kim Jong Un](http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2017-kim-jong-un-runner-up/), appears to be acting cooperatively, North Korea really hasn’t promised the U.S. much of anything in negotiations so far.

“He \[Kim Jong Un\] seems to be giving very little, but making it seem like he’s giving a lot, and he’s giving off a tone of cooperation,” Todd said. “Look, the tone in itself obviously is a positive development.”

“As a diplomatic overture, the U.S. would look terrible if they didn’t accept that kind of overture and at least continue the conversation,” Todd added.

Todd suggested that North Korea stands to gain more from direct negotiations than the United States is likely to. “I have to tell you, there’s a lot of people asking, ‘There’s not many pre-conditions the United States is asking for.’ So far, in this potential summit North Koreans have gotten a lot of out it, what has the United States gotten yet?”


“We don’t have a release of any of those Americans that they’ve held captive. We don’t have a pledge of denuclearization as the ultimate goal. There’s a lot of things they are not promising that is raising some red flags,” he said.

You can watch the full clip of Todd’s comments here:

> [](https://twitter.com/TODAYshow/status/988041569503760384)


## Transcript

[ FOREIGN ] [ FOREIGN ] [ FOREIGN ] [ FOREIGN ]

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