North Korea is once again trying to rattle its saber, this time with photos of hypersonic missile launches aimed squarely at sending a message to President Donald Trump. But here’s the thing: America doesn’t bow to dictators, and we certainly don’t take orders from a rogue regime led by Kim Jong Un.

Let’s be clear—this latest weapons test is not about defense. It’s about intimidation. North Korea knows Trump is heading to South Korea next week for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, and they’re trying to make some noise. They want to remind the world that they’re still developing dangerous weapons. But what they don’t understand is that Trump has never been afraid to stand up to tyrants.

The hypersonic missiles they launched are fast—five times the speed of sound—and hard to shoot down. They’re trying to show off, acting like they’ve joined the big leagues with China and Russia. These missiles are part of a plan to threaten America, our troops stationed in the region, and our allies like South Korea and Japan. That’s the truth. And it’s exactly why we need a strong leader in the White House—someone like Trump who puts America first and never backs down.

Let’s not forget, it was President Trump who first opened the door to talks with North Korea. He met with Kim Jong Un three times during his first term. No other president had the courage to sit face-to-face with the North Korean leader. And while Kim didn’t give up his nukes, Trump made it clear that the United States would not be pushed around. He used peace through strength—military power backed by the willingness to use it—to keep America safe and secure.

Now, with Trump back in the White House, Kim is testing the waters again. He’s trying to see if he can spook the U.S. before the summit. But that won’t work. Trump knows exactly who Kim is and what he’s trying to do. He’s not fooled by phony promises or staged missile photos. The President made it very clear back in August that he still gets along with Kim and may meet him in the future—but only on America’s terms.

The intelligence community has it right: Kim sees his weapons as a way to hold on to power. He’s not going to give them up willingly. That’s why we need a president who doesn’t play games. We need someone who understands that the only way to deal with regimes like North Korea is from a position of strength, not weakness. That’s why Joe Biden’s soft approach during his time in office was a disaster. It gave our enemies the impression that we were asleep at the wheel.

Now that Trump is back, the game has changed. He’s rebuilding our military, restoring our alliances based on strength, not apologies, and putting America’s interests first. The world is watching, and so is Kim. He may fire off a missile or two, but deep down, he knows that he can’t manipulate President Trump.

The American people need to understand what’s really at stake here. This isn’t just about North Korea. It’s about our national security. It’s about making sure that rogue nations don’t get away with threatening the homeland or our allies. It’s about making clear that the United States will not be bullied.

So let Kim launch his missiles. Let him pose for pictures. At the end of the day, President Trump will do what he always does—protect America, stand up to tyrants, and put our country first. While the left wrings its hands and talks about diplomacy, Trump takes action. That’s leadership. That’s strength. And that’s exactly what we need right now.