Trump threatens South Korea over Alaska LNG project dispute

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a midterm campaign rally at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama, on Friday. | AFP-JIJI

Bloomberg, REUTERS

Oct 3, 2026

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened new trade retaliation against South Korea if it doesn’t follow through with an investment in a liquefied natural gas project in Alaska. 

Earlier this week, Trump announced a $54 billion plan for the LNG export venture as the centerpiece of Seoul’s commitment to invest in the U.S. But the South Korean government later said it only agreed to the project if it proves economically viable. 

“If they don’t want to do it, that’s OK with me — I’ll just charge them more,” Trump said Friday when asked about South Korea’s pushback, using similar language as he has in the past when making tariff threats against foreign governments. 

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