Donald Trump 'Jokes' With Vladimir Putin on Russia's 'Meddling' in US Elections; Watch Video
Don't meddle in the election, president, don't meddle," Trump said with a smile, wagging his finger playfully at the Russian leader as the pair held talks in Osaka on Friday, on the sidelines of the G20. Putin said nothing, but grinned in response to the comment, which came only after a reporter shouted a question, asking whether Trump would warn his Russian counterpart.
Osaka, June 28: United States President Donald Trump had raised eyebrows ahead of his meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, claiming that he would raise the issue of Kremlin's "meddling" in US elections during the talks. However, Trump appeared to have joked off the matter in presence of Putin.
"Don't meddle in the election, president, don't meddle," Trump said with a smile, wagging his finger playfully at the Russian leader as the pair held talks in Osaka on Friday, on the sidelines of the G20. Donald Trump Hails 'Very, Very Good Relationship' in Talks with Vladimir Putin on Sidelines of G20 Summit
Putin said nothing, but grinned in response to the comment, which came only after a reporter shouted a question, asking whether Trump would warn his Russian premier about influencing the presidential vote next year.
Watch Video of Trump 'Joking' With Putin on Election Meddling Row:
The meeting was the first time the two leaders have held face-to-face talks since a controversial meeting last year in Helsinki. Trump has been dogged throughout his presidency by allegations of suspicious ties to Russia.
A major probe led by special prosecutor Robert Mueller found there was an organised Russian campaign to influence the 2016 election won by Trump.
It found contacts between Russian operatives and Trump's election campaign, but no evidence of a joint plot, and the US leader has characterised the findings as exonerating him.
Ahead of his meeting with Putin, Trump brushed aside questions from reporters about what they would discuss.
"What I say to him is none of your business," he said at the White House. But on Friday Trump said the pair would be discussing "trade... some disarmament, a little protectionism perhaps."
"A lot of very positive things are going to come out of the relationship," he predicted, to smiles from Putin. "I cannot but agree with Mr. President," the Russian leader said.
(With agency inputs)
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 28, 2019 07:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).