News | Entertainment
12 Feb 2026 3:28
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Donald Trump has been awarded an honorary black belt in taekwondo

    The former US President was presented with a ninth Dan black belt - the highest level in the martial art - in Florida last week by Lee Dong-sup, the president of the taekwondo governing body Kukkiwon


    Upon receiving the belt, Trump said: "It is my honour to receive Honorary Dan Certificate and I think taekwondo is a magnificent martial art for self-defence.

    "I wish to see Kukkiwon Taekwondo Team's demonstration."

    According to reports in South Korea, Trump added that he would wear the taekwondo suit in Congress if he makes it back to the White House.

    Trump has never actually practiced the martial art but Kukkiwon added that the ceremony was "not related to any other political issues".

    The award means Trump is now the same rank as Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was made an honorary ninth Dan in 2013.

    Lee visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday (19.11.2021) in order to present Trump with the honour.

    According to reports, it is thought that Lee's visit to the US was organised by South Korean already living in the States.

    Lee said: "I heard that the Donald Trump is highly interested in taekwondo."

    Trump was bestowed with the honorary black belt on the the same day he congratulated Kyle Rittenhouse after a jury found him not guilty of any charges for fatally shooting two men and injuring a third in Wisconsin in August 2020, ruling self-defence.

    He said: "Congratulations to Kyle Rittenhouse for being found INNOCENT of all charges. It’s called being found NOT GUILTY – And by the way, if that’s not self defense, nothing is!"(sic)

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     11 Feb: KyIie Kelce is relieved that she has "no skin" in the Super Bowl this year
     11 Feb: Olivia Colman feels as though she is non-binary
     11 Feb: Lindsey Vonn is in a "stable condition" after her frightening crash at the Winter Olympics
     11 Feb: Chase Infiniti is still coming to terms with fame
     11 Feb: ‘New Zealanders are inventive by necessity’: how the master clown Philippe Gaulier shaped NZ theatre
     11 Feb: Blac Chyna is taking a break from dating
     11 Feb: Melissa Joan Hart appreciates how being a child star set her up for life at a young age
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The selections of two young guns plucked out of wider training groups headline the first Super Rugby Wednesday team lists of 2026 More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Calls for Government intervention on power bills - with predictions of another big bump More...



     Today's News

    Rugby:
    The selections of two young guns plucked out of wider training groups headline the first Super Rugby Wednesday team lists of 2026 21:57

    Entertainment:
    KyIie Kelce is relieved that she has "no skin" in the Super Bowl this year 21:51

    Entertainment:
    Olivia Colman feels as though she is non-binary 21:21

    Politics:
    Area school teachers are heading back into pay talks - due to a disagreement between unions 21:17

    Law and Order:
    How the search for Nancy Guthrie played out as police detain a person for questioning 21:07

    Entertainment:
    Lindsey Vonn is in a "stable condition" after her frightening crash at the Winter Olympics 20:51

    Entertainment:
    Chase Infiniti is still coming to terms with fame 20:21

    Entertainment:
    ‘New Zealanders are inventive by necessity’: how the master clown Philippe Gaulier shaped NZ theatre 20:07

    Entertainment:
    Blac Chyna is taking a break from dating 19:51

    Entertainment:
    Melissa Joan Hart appreciates how being a child star set her up for life at a young age 19:21


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd