Mercedes Schlapp, a prominent conservative commentator and former White House official, voiced concerns on Jan. 7 about the potential geopolitical ramifications of South Korea’s ongoing political crisis. Speaking on her broadcast, she hosted Gordon Chang, a noted China critic, to discuss the situation’s broader impact on Northeast Asia.
Schlapp, married to American Conservative Union (ACU) Chairman Matt Schlapp—a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump—underscored the significance of South Korea’s impeachment proceedings and their implications for regional stability. The ACU, founded in 1964, is the largest conservative grassroots organization in the U.S., and its ties to Trump run deep, with the president-elect having frequently spoken at ACU events.
While Korean American Rep. Young Kim is the only U.S. lawmaker to publicly comment on South Korea’s political unrest, Trump’s MAGA base appears attuned to the developments, including the impeachment efforts and martial law discussions.
Schlapp, a Cuban American born in Florida, previously served as director of strategic communications in Trump’s first-term White House and worked on George W. Bush’s presidential campaign. Alongside her husband, a key Trump confidant, the couple was dubbed Washington’s “It Couple” during the Trump presidency. Their lobbying firm’s first major client was Koch Industries, a longstanding conservative donor powerhouse.
During the broadcast, Schlapp referred to her husband’s recent trip to Japan, emphasizing the interconnectedness of Northeast Asian dynamics. She asked Chang, “What’s happening in South Korea, why should Americans care, and what should the U.S. do?”
Chang characterized South Korea’s political crisis as a left-wing push to destabilize the government. He accused the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) of overreaching by attempting to impeach key officials, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Acting President Choi Sang-mok, following President Yoon Suk-yeol’s controversial martial law declaration.
Chang also criticized DPK leader Lee Jae-myung, a potential presidential contender, labeling him a “relentless leftist” facing criminal charges. He suggested Lee might be accelerating efforts to impeach Yoon to secure his own political future before a court ruling could disqualify his candidacy.
Schlapp referenced photos of pro- and anti-impeachment rallies near South Korea’s presidential residence, observing, “China and North Korea seem to naturally support the left-wing party, while America’s great allies like Japan and Taiwan are watching closely.” She asked Chang how the crisis might reshape regional dynamics.
Chang responded that while the DPK could win the next presidential election, Yoon’s approval ratings have risen from below 20% to around 40%, largely due to public backlash against perceived leftist overreach.
Concerns over South Korea’s political stability intensified last month after the DPK submitted an impeachment motion accusing Yoon of “antagonizing North Korea, China, and Russia” while pursuing “Japan-centric diplomacy.” The motion has drawn scrutiny from U.S. policymakers.
The Schlapps’ organization, the ACU, hosts the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), often referred to as the “Super Bowl of conservative politics.” The event gathers Republican lawmakers, think tanks, and students for four days of discussions on conservative priorities. Trump, a CPAC regular, praised the ACU during last year’s event, calling it “a group of people with common sense.” Speculation is growing over whether Trump, now president-elect, will deliver remarks at this year’s conference.
In a 2019 interview with The Chosun Ilbo, Matt Schlapp offered advice to South Korea’s fractured conservative movement in the wake of former President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment. “The moment you moralize politics with, ‘You must think this way if you’re on our side,’ a coalition becomes impossible,” he said. “If you’re in the same conservative room, it doesn’t matter which door you entered from.”
