Dennis Rodman: My Gift Helped Lead to Korean Summit

Dennis Rodman has been striving for a diplomatic solution regarding the Korean Peninsula going back to Obama, claiming he knows exactly what North Korea needs. And now that last week's summit has concluded with promises to end the war between the two nations and work toward "complete denuclearization," the former NBA star is fishing for a bit of the credit for helping bring about a "change of heart" in Kim Jong Un, he tells TMZ. It goes back to a gift he says he offered to Kim during a trip to North Korea last year: a copy of Trump's book The Art of the Deal, which Rodman believes offered Kim deeper insights into Trump, whom Rodman calls "a good friend."

Rodman thinks that gesture, and his other efforts as a "sports ambassador," have "resonated" with the North Korean leader. "The government over there asked me to talk to Donald Trump about what they want and how we can solve things," Rodman says. But "I don't want to take all the credit," he adds. "I don't want to sit here and say, 'I did this. I did that.' No, that's not my intention." The Hill notes Rodman's comments come as Trump preps for his own upcoming summit with Kim, with the date and place TBD. (South Korea's leader says Trump deserves a Nobel.)