'Korean investment' announcement had no Koreans — analysts say it was a Trump rally for Alaska politicians

Analysts say Donald Trump's Wednesday event — in which he presented the Alaska liquefied natural gas project as a fait accompli despite the South Korean government's insistence it had only "agreed to begin a review" — was staged primarily to boost Alaska's Republican senator ahead of an election.

At the White House, Trump announced South Korea's $200 billion investment plan in the United States and included the Alaska LNG project in the package. Trump did not cite a specific figure for the project, but Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who followed with additional details, said "more than $50 billion" would go into the Alaska LNG project.

Yet the joint press release distributed by the South Korean and US governments immediately after the White House announcement stated only that the two sides had "agreed to begin a review" of the Alaska LNG project — language that falls well short of a confirmed investment.

Another puzzling aspect was the near-total absence of South Korean officials or business representatives at an event ostensibly centered on Korean investment in the United States. There was no customary expression of gratitude toward South Korea, and remarks focused mainly on the economic benefits the Alaska LNG project would bring to the local community.

In place of Korean officials, the event was packed with Alaska's Republican politicians — Sen. Dan Sullivan, Rep. Nick Begich and Gov. Mike Dunleavy among them — along with Cabinet members including Lutnick, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

Trump highlighted Sullivan's role in advancing the Alaska LNG project and painted a rosy picture of the economic revival it would bring to the state. "This project alone will be one of the largest energy projects in the history of the United States, and it's a tremendous victory for the people of Alaska," Trump said, claiming the project would create 12,000 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent operating positions.

Trump then lavished praise on Sullivan, calling him "a great senator who is totally responsible for this pipeline and the projects we're doing and the many jobs we've created," and adding, "He's a great senator not only for Alaska but for our country and for the world."

Sullivan took the microphone immediately after Trump finished speaking. He called the project "by far the most important project in our state," saying it would allow "our children and grandchildren to stay in Alaska and enjoy a bright and wonderful future."

Trump also urged the crowd not to confuse Sullivan with a candidate sharing the same name. Emphasizing the middle initial "S," Trump said, "You can't confuse Dan S. Sullivan with anybody else," and claimed, "They put up a fake Sullivan." The remarks were a clear swipe at Dan J. Sullivan, a different candidate with the same name who advanced to the general election ballot in Alaska.

Taken together, observers widely concluded the event resembled a campaign rally to boost Alaska's local politicians far more than an official announcement of South Korean investment in the United States.