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When Donald Trump meets Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, or Xi Jinping, what does the image itself accomplish before any deal is signed?In this episode of Buffer State, Sasha Stern and Reid Smith sit down with Minseon Ku to explore the role of political optics, presidential summits, and face-to-face meetings with adversaries.Ku argues that these encounters cannot be judged only by treaties, concessions, or immediate policy outcomes. In some of the most consequential meetings between rival states, the handshake, the photograph, and the public interaction between leaders can reshape how audiences understand an adversary — and what kinds of foreign policy become possible afterward.The conversation uses Donald Trump’s meetings with Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping to examine whether meeting an adversary legitimizes them, why summit diplomacy can matter even without a major agreement, and how political imagery can shape public perceptions. The discussion also covers South Korea–Japan relations, Reagan and Gorbachev, U.S.–North Korea negotiations, the humanization of political enemies, and the growing personalization of American diplomacy. finalCan a summit change public opinion even when no deal is reached? Let us know what you think in the comments.Topics include:00:00 Intro02:09 Handshakes, Optics, and Diplomatic Theater07:47 Meeting Adversaries and the Politics of Legitimacy10:52 How Modern Summit Diplomacy Works18:38 Trump, North Korea, and the Cost of Talking28:20 How Summits Shape Public Perception38:04 Why Summit Optics Matter
