A senior White House official told CNN the discussion was “nearly an hour.”
The White House, in a statement acknowledging the meeting, contended it was “brief” and said Trump spoke with Putin through Russia’s translator. The US translator at the dinner — each country was only allowed only one — spoke Japanese, the White House said.
National Security Council spokesman Michael Anton said no other staff were present for the discussion.
The White House statement said the conversation took place in full view of other world leaders and their spouses at a dinner hosted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel during the G20 summit. Trump was seated near Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Abe’s wife, while first lady Melania Trump was seated next to Putin.
The White House said Trump went over to his wife and spoke with Putin near the dinner’s end.
The discussion came after their scheduled, two-hour-long bilateral meeting earlier that day.
The White House, in its statement, sought to downplay the significance of the discussion.
“It is not merely perfectly normal, it is part of a president’s duties, to interact with world leaders,” the statement said.
The statement also disputed characterizing the discussion as a “second meeting,” but instead called it a “brief conversation.”
Source: Trump, Putin met for nearly an hour in second G20 meeting – CNNPolitics.com
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