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Continetti Lays Out Stakes of Trump-Kim Jong Un Summit, Risks of Miscommunication

Washington Free Beacon editor-in-chief Matt Continetti appeared on NPR's "Morning Edition" Monday where he discussed the imminent summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

NPR's David Greene referred to a piece Continetti wrote last week about the good and bad offered by the summit in Singapore.

"Singapore is an opportunity for Trump to size up an adversary," he wrote. "At best it will inspire Kim to take verifiable steps towards disarmament. At worst, it will send the sort of mixed signal that has led to disaster. "

NPR's David Greene asked Continetti what kind of disasters the summit could lead to.

"Well, war. That's the ultimate disaster, right?" Continetti asked.

Continetti clarified how the summit could lead down that path.

"In the long history of civilization, you often find situations where mixed communications, leaders interpreting words or actions in a way that they were not intended to be interpreted," he said.

"Ultimately that can cause miscommunication, misconception, and conflict. I do worry about that in this summit, which is, how are President Trump and Kim Jong Un going to interact? Especially when they're on their own and in private," he said. "Will either leader say something that the other will interpret in a very wrong way?"

The NPR host asked if Continetti thought the risk was worth it.

"I've always been skeptical of this summit, but President Trump as you see on trade, has always been a risk taker," Continetti said. "And once again, he's kind of throwing his fate to the wind. We shall see."