President Donald Trump commemorated National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day with a message honoring the nearly 2 million Americans who fought in the Korean War. The July 28 statement praised veterans who served in what’s often called the “Forgotten War.”
The presidential message marks the 72nd anniversary of the armistice that ended active combat on July 27, 1953. Trump renewed his administration’s commitment to maintaining strong ties with South Korea and opposing communist forces in Asia.
“Beginning just days after the first shots of the Korean War, in the summer of 1950, nearly 2 million Americans embarked on a daring crusade across the Pacific to halt the spread of communism in Asia,” Trump stated. The conflict began when North Korean forces crossed the 38th parallel on June 25, 1950.
American troops endured 38 months of brutal warfare against North Korean and Chinese forces—the president’s message detailed battles at Heartbreak Ridge, Pork Chop Hill, and the Chosin Reservoir.
More than 32,000 Americans died in combat during the war. Nearly 93,000 were wounded, with thousands more captured or missing.
Trump referenced his historic 2019 meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He became the first sitting U.S. President to enter North Korea when he crossed the demilitarized zone.
The message emphasized his administration’s “peace through strength” foreign policy approach. Trump vowed to rebuild the military and maintain the U.S.-South Korea alliance.
“Their valiant legacy will never be forgotten,” Trump said of Korean War veterans. The armistice established a ceasefire between United Nations forces, North Korea, and China, though no formal peace treaty was ever signed.