Pentagon Caught Doing Shady Stuff Behind Trump

The Pentagon on Friday firmly rejected a report from the Wall Street Journal that claimed the Trump administration is considering a plan to withdraw thousands of American troops from South Korea. According to the Journal’s article, published Thursday, the Defense Department had been developing a potential proposal to relocate approximately 4,500 U.S. troops from South Korea to other Indo-Pacific locations, including Guam. The report cited unnamed defense officials who said the idea was part of an informal policy review on North Korea and would be one of several options presented to President Trump.

However, Pentagon press secretary Sean Parnell quickly denied the report, stating flatly that “reports that the DoD will reduce U.S. troops in the Republic of Korea are not true.” Parnell emphasized that routine evaluations of force posture are common at the Pentagon, but made clear that no plans are in motion to reduce the American military presence in South Korea. “Anyone who’s covered the Pentagon knows that we always evaluate force posture,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “That said, the U.S. remains firmly committed to the ROK. Our alliance is iron clad.”

South Korea’s own defense ministry echoed that message, telling reporters Friday that no discussions about reducing or removing U.S. troops had taken place between Seoul and Washington. The ministry’s statement was reported by Reutersas officials sought to calm any speculation of strained relations between the two allies.

There are currently about 28,500 American troops stationed in South Korea. The U.S. presence in the region is widely viewed as a cornerstone of the American-led security framework in East Asia, with coordinated efforts between U.S. forces and regional allies including Japan and the Philippines. Together, they serve as a strategic counterweight to threats from North Korea and growing military pressure from China.

While the report fueled speculation about a potential policy shift, the Pentagon’s quick and unequivocal denial signals that such a move is not being formally considered—at least for now. The Biden administration’s public posture remains one of strong alliance and continued cooperation with South Korea, despite ongoing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.