President Trump and Kim Jong Un had a historic private meeting earlier today in Singapore. And while we don’t know exactly what was said between the two men, we do know that Trump played a video for Kim on his iPad. The video was created to look like a Hollywood movie trailer and it’s honestly pretty bizarre.
The fake trailer, complete with sweeping music and a dramatic voiceover, imagines a world where Trump and Kim have brought peace. And it even includes the phrase, “Destiny Pictures presents...” as though it was a real movie trailer. There is a real “Destiny Pictures” in existence but it has a .biz domain and doesn’t appear to have any relationship with the White House.
The fake movie trailer was also played for reporters shortly before Trump took the stage for a press conference in Singapore earlier today. Movies are a universal language, but it really is a weird format for diplomacy. This is probably the first time that a global superpower has made a fake movie trailer to try and convince an adversary to make peace.
You can watch the video in both English or Korean and it’s truly surreal with lines like “featuring President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un.... in a meeting to remake history.” You really just have to watch it for yourself. (Update: We’ve also uploaded a higher resolution version of the video below.)
Gizmodo has transcribed the voiceover from the trailer below:
Seven billion people inhabit planet Earth. Of those alive today, only a small number will leave a lasting impact. And only the very few will make decisions or take actions that renew their homeland and change the course of history.
History may appear to repeat itself for generations—cycles that never seem to end. There have been times of relative peace and times of great tension. While this cycle repeats, the light of prosperity and innovation have burned bright for much of the world. History is always evolving, and there comes a time when only a few are called upon to make a difference. But the question is, what difference will the few make? The past doesn’t have to be the future. Out of the darkness can come the light. And the light of hope can burn bright.
What if... a people that share a common and rich heritage can find a common future? Their story is well known but what will be their sequel?
Destiny Pictures presents a story of opportunity. A new story, a new beginning. One of peace. Two men, two leaders, one destiny. A story about a special moment in time, when a man is presented with one chance which may never be repeated. What will he choose? To show vision and leadership? Or not?
There can only be two results. One of moving back. Or one of moving forward. A new world can begin today. One of friendship, respect, and goodwill. Be part of that world, where the doors of opportunity are ready to be opened—investment from around the world, where you can have medical breakthroughs, an abundance of resources, innovative technology, and new discoveries.
What if? Can history be changed? Will the world embrace this change? And when can this moment in history begin? It comes down to a choice. On this day. In this time. At this moment. The world will be watching, listening, anticipating, hoping. Will this leader choose to advance his country and be part of a new world? Be the hero of his people? Will he shake the hand of peace and enjoy prosperity like he has never seen? A great life or more isolation? Which path will be chosen?
Featuring President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un.... in a meeting to remake history. To shine in the sun. One moment, one choice, what if? The future remains to be written.
Here’s what it looked like in the press room while the fake trailer played, before President Trump took the stage.
You can also watch video taken from the back of the room here:
So, yeah. That happened. You can watch the rest of Trump’s press conference here. But it’s certainly not as entertaining as Trump’s fake movie trailer. What a strange time to be alive.
Update, 4:38pm: The Washington Post reports that journalists in the room assumed the video was North Korean propaganda, especially because the video was first played in Korean and then in English.
Some journalists, unable to understand the Korean-language narration, assumed they were watching one of Pyongyang’s infamous propaganda films. “What country are we in?” asked a reporter from the filing center.
Everything is completely upside down. Especially the president of the United States is picking fights with Canada and praising dictators. I think we’re all breathing a sigh of relief that we may have averted nuclear war, but Trump does seem to be making the wrong kind of friends these days.
Update, 5:31pm: The White House just posted the video on Facebook in its first official release. It’s even creepier in HD.
President Trump also revealed the video’s name on Twitter. It’s called “A Story of Opportunity.” OK.