Elton John Praises Donald Trump's 'Brilliant' Nickname For Kim Jong Un Inspired By His Song

In a recent interview, Sir Elton John reflected on Donald Trump's "Little Rocket Man" nickname for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

While grateful for Trump's support, Elton refrained from endorsing the politician, urging Americans to vote for justice and personal freedom.

At the Toronto Film Festival, Elton John attended the premiere of "Never Too Late," a documentary about his life and career, where he tearfully expressed his pride in being a father and husband.

Years after Trump famously referred to Kim Jong Un as "Little Rocket Man," Elton John, during a chat with Variety at the Toronto Film Festival, shared that he found the nickname "brilliant" and "hilarious."

The 77-year-old musician said: "I laughed, I thought that was brilliant. I just thought, 'Good on you, Donald.'"

He added: "I've always been friendly toward him, and I thank him for his support. When he did that, I just thought it was hilarious. It made me laugh."

Trump first coined the term "little rocket man" in 2017 in a tweet criticizing then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's efforts to negotiate with Kim Jong Un.

According to Mike Pompeo's 2022 memoir, Trump later had to explain the nickname to Jong Un during their meeting. The North Korean leader was unfamiliar with John and reportedly even signed one of the singer's CDs to give him as a gift.

John added that he wasn't surprised Jong Un hadn't heard of him, joking," 'Of course, he hasn't heard of me, Kim Jong Un. I'd be very surprised if he had. 'I've never toured North Korea, and I have no intention of doing so."

While grateful for Trump's support as a longtime fan who has attended several of his concerts, John did not back him for the upcoming election, instead emphasizing the importance of voting for what is right.

He urged Americans to support causes like personal freedom and justice, saying, "Kindness will always win out… that's what I hope for the American election in November."

"America is in a very volatile position," John continued. "And it's a country I love, and I've always loved, and I'm so thankful that it made me who I am."

The singer also called on people to vote for "things that are just, things that are important to people: the right to choose, the right to be who you are, and not let anybody else tell you who to be. And that goes all the way up to the Supreme Court."

John explained that he wouldn't tell his fans to vote for either Republicans or Democrats but hoped they would "make the right decision to see what the future is going to be."

He urged people to consider whether they want to live in a world of "fire and brimstone" or seek "a much calmer, safer place."

John also expressed his concern about the loss of love in America over the past decade. He said, "Americans can vote for who they like, but as far as I'm concerned, I love love, and I'm a loving person, and I want that to come back to America."

The legendary singer attended the Toronto International Film Festival for the world premiere of "Elton John: Never Too Late," a documentary offering an intimate look at his life and career.

It also focused on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which concluded with his 2022 Dodger Stadium performance.

Directed by R.J. Cutler and John's husband, David Furnish, the film uses archival footage to provide new insights into the life of a superstar singer who has captivated audiences since the 1970s.

During the premiere, Furnish admitted that making a documentary about John was both exciting and daunting.

A surprising moment in "Never Too Late" was a 1976 conversation where John expressed his desire to start a family, which initially shocked Furnish.

"In the early days of our relationship, he said he never wanted to have children," Furnish shared. "And then, of course, we have children, so that was like a really nice surprise."

During the premiere's Q&A, John tearfully reflected, saying, "On my tombstone, I don't want it to say he sold a million records. I want it to say he was a great dad and great husband."

The multiple Grammy award winner recently opened up about his health status, noting that he suffered an infection that greatly affected his sight.

John shared the information on Instagram with his fans, assuring them he has been spending time with his family and healing from the infection.

His statement began, "Over the summer, I've been dealing with a severe eye infection that has unfortunately left me with only limited vision in one eye. I am healing, but it's an extremely slow process and it will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye."

The singer then noted that he is "grateful for the excellent team of doctors and nurses and my family, who have taken such good care" of him over the last several weeks."

Concluding his post, John said, "I have been quietly spending the summer recuperating at home, and am feeling positive about the progress I have made in my healing and recovery thus far."