Trump brings NBA legend Dennis Rodman on his midterm road show with an unexpected Kim Jong Un connection

Rodman stood out among the officials and politicians gathered at Peterbilt Motors as Trump began his latest campaign swing. The former Chicago Bulls star was seen at the plant, including a candid moment with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles while Trump toured the facility. The White House pool also spotted Rodman during Trump's tour, wearing sparkly black pants, as the president posed for photographs with workers. When reporters initially asked Trump why Rodman was there, he did not explain.

There was another reason Durant made sense as a destination for Trump's surprise travel companion. Rodman attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant during the 1980s before beginning his NBA career. Photos later showed him listening as Trump addressed a campaign rally at the Choctaw Event Center in Durant. Trump's appearance was part of a broader push ahead of the November 3 midterms. The president used the Oklahoma event to support Republican candidates, including gubernatorial nominee Mike Mazzei.

Rodman did more than make a cameo at the factory. After Trump's Texas appearance, Rodman reportedly climbed into the presidential motorcade for the journey north to Oklahoma. When asked what he hoped to discuss with Trump, Rodman gave a notably simple answer: “life.” And when asked whether another trip to North Korea could be coming, Rodman joked, “If you buy the ticket.”

Trump and Rodman's association predates the star's appearance at the rally. Rodman appeared as a contestant on Trump's 'Celebrity Apprentice' and was fired twice during his appearances on the reality show. Years later, their paths crossed with an entirely different geopolitical subplot: Rodman developed his unusual relationship with Kim, while Trump became the first sitting US president to meet a North Korean leader. Now the two have appeared together again — this time on Trump's midterm road show, with Rodman's college past bringing him back to Oklahoma and his North Korea connections unexpectedly becoming part of the conversation along the way.

Trump eventually provided some context while addressing workers at the Texas plant. Speaking about his past dealings with Kim Jong Un, Trump singled out Rodman's unusual relationship with the North Korean leader, saying the basketball star was the person who “knew him best. Rodman made at least five trips to North Korea between 2013 and 2017 and developed a personal relationship with Kim. Trump, meanwhile, met the North Korean leader three times during his first term, including their 2019 encounter at the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Trump has recently expressed interest in meeting Kim again, although no new meeting has been announced.