The White House on Tuesday disputed reports President Donald Trump had a second lengthy meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the recent G-20 summit, saying only that the leaders met "briefly."
The statement, to ABC News and other organizations, did confirm Putin's translator was used during the exchange.
"During the course of the dinner, all the leaders circulated throughout the room and spoke with one another freely," the statement said. "President Trump spoke with many leaders during the course of the evening.
"As the dinner was concluding, President Trump went over to Mrs. [Melania] Trump, where he spoke briefly with President Putin.
"It is not merely perfectly normal, it is part of a president's duties, to interact with world leaders," the statement continued.
"Throughout the G-20 and in all his other foreign engagements, President Trump has demonstrated American leadership by representing our interests and values on the world stage."
Ian Bremmer, president of political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, first reported the meeting Tuesday in a note to clients.
Television coverage of the dinner showed first lady Melania Trump was sitting next to Putin.
Bremmer said Trump got up from his seat halfway through dinner and spent about an hour talking "privately and animatedly" with Putin, "joined only by Putin's own translator."
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