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Trump awarded honorary ninth-degree black belt in taekwondo

The ninth dan belt is the highest level that can be achieved in taekwondo.

November 24, 2021 6:05pm

Updated: November 25, 2021 12:10pm

Former President Donald Trump was awarded an honorary ninth dan belt certificate in taekwondo at his Mar-a-Lago resort over the weekend by the sport's main governing body.

Kukkiwon president Lee Dong-seop issued the honorary belt to Trump, with the South Korean taekwondo world headquarters' Facebook page posting photos of the former president receiving it as he wore a traditional taekwondo uniform with a black dan belt.

The ninth dan belt is the highest level that can be achieved in taekwondo, according to the New York Post.

"I heard that the Donald Trump is highly interested in Taekwondo," Lee said, according to the Korean newspaper Dong-A-Ilbo.

"It is my honor to receive the honorary dan certificate and I think Taekwondo is a magnificent martial art for self-defense," Trump said, according to the Facebook post. "I wish to see Kukkiwon taekwondo team's demonstration."

The president said that he would will wear the taekwondo suit in the U.S. Capitol if he's president again, reported the Korean outlet.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was also awarded an honorary ninth dan belt in taekwondo during a 2013 visit to Seoul, the Post reported. Both world leaders have never practiced the martial art.

In the Facebook photos, Trump and Lee posed in front of pictures of the former president meeting with world leaders, including North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the U.K.'s Queen Elizabeth.