2018 is not just gonna be big for the U.S.
It looks to be a momentous year
in many countries around the world. For instance,
Russia is having its presidential election in March.
Spoiler alert: Putin wins.
But barely.
By, like, 98%.
And in Iran they may not have been planning to hold elections,
but it doesn't seem like the citizens are willing to wait.
And we're following breaking news from Iran,
where 12 people have been killed
in anti-government protests there.
Security forces fought armed demonstrators
who tried to take over police stations and military bases.
The protests over the government's handling
of the economy started Thursday and quickly spread
across the country, as several others have been wounded
and hundreds have been arrested.
You know, I'm not an expert on Iran,
but I think if your streets are in such bad shape
that you can pick them up and throw them,
that's got to be part of the problem.
That's part of the problem.
Now, these are the largest anti-government protests in Iran
since 2009, and in case you're wondering
what drove these people into the streets,
it wasn't that George Soros was paying them,
it was after the U.S. lifted sanctions on Iran in 2015,
the Iranian government promised
a big economic boom for everyone.
But while the rich in Iran are getting richer,
ordinary Iranians aren't noticing the benefits.
And I know this third world stuff is hard for some Americans
to relate to, but just imagine if the U.S. government
promised tax cuts for the middle class
but then only the rich benefited.
I know, I know--
that (bleep) would never happen. I know.
(cheering, applause)
But you know what I mean.
Now, obviously, obviously, uh, all the world's thoughts
are with the people of Iran right now.
But I can't say that all of our attention is.
REPORTER: North Korea's, uh, Kim Jong Un
issued a warning to the U.S. during his annual
New Year's address. He says the North
has a complete nuclear arsenal
and the button is always on his desk. His words.
But Kim says he will not use the weapons unless threatened.
He struck a more conciliatory tone with South Korea,
even suggesting that North Korea may complete
in the Winter Games in South Korea next month.
No, I'm sorry-- I love Kim Jong Un.
He's the only guy I know who will threaten
nuclear retaliation and RSVP to an event in the same speech.
Yeah. 'Cause he's just like,
"I've got a bomb and also I'm gonna come to the Olympics."
That's... that's like a guy walking into his office like,
"Nobody move! I have a bomb strapped to my chest.
"Oh, and Cynthia, put me down
"for that potluck on Saturday, please.
"Yeah, I'm making Oreo brownies,
"and it's gonna be the this thing.
Get it?"
Now, it may not seem like it, but this is a pretty big deal.
It's been years since North and South Korea
have had diplomatic talks. And now Kim Jong Un
wants to join South Korea in the Olympics.
So this could be a positive move.
Although I don't know if I trust Lil' Kim, to be honest.
You know? 'Cause he's probably gonna be like,
"North and South Korea will compete together
"in the biathlon. You guys do the skiing,
we'll do the shooting."
So the big question was how would Donald Trump react
to this development? Would he support the talks?
Uh, would he stand tough against Kim Jong Un?
What role will the United States play?
REPORTER: He says they've completed their nuclear forces
in North Korea, that he has a nuclear button on his desk.
We'll see, we'll see.
REPORTER 2: The president reacted cautiously
at his New Year's Eve bash at Mar-a-Lago,
telling guests adversaries should take notice.
Have you ever noticed that when Trump
has no idea about something, he just says any crazy thing
that pops into his head?
And then he adds "I don't know."
Which is pretty slick, because then you can never
call him out on it.
"Maybe birds can fly backward when we're not looking.
I don't know. I don't know. We'll see."
But this is a big deal.
North and South Korea
now want to come to the table for talks
that won't include the United States.
And that's the power of Donald Trump.
No matter how far apart two adversaries are,
they can always look at each other and say,
"We'd better sort this (bleep) out
"before that guy gets involved. We're just gonna
fix it ourselves."
So this could be the beginning of peace on Korea Peninsula.
Or it could just be America being removed
from the global conversation.
I don't know, folks. We'll see.