The White House issued a clarification on Monday stating the First Lady did not personally know the North Korean supreme leader like Trump claimed. Trump gave the statement after holding a joint news conference on Monday with France’s President, Emmanuel Macron, before departing the G7 summit in Biarritz. The claim arose after Trump used a question about the breakdown in relations with Iran to paint a parallel to the progress of nuclear talks between his administration and North Korea.
He said: ”The first lady has gotten to know Kim Jong-un, and I think she would agree with me he is a man with a country that has tremendous potential.”
The statement from Trump evoked a quizzical look from Melania as a camera cut to her sitting in the audience.
Confusions were aroused as Melania had not met Kim as she was not present for any of his and Trump’s meetings.
There is also no evidence that she has ever spoken to him.
The President and his wife left for Washington from the summit several hours later.
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham then issued a statement to clear up any speculations on Melania and Kim.
The statement said: “President Trump confides in his wife on many issues including the detailed elements of his strong relationship with Chairman Kim.
“While the First Lady hasn’t met him, the President feels like she’s gotten to know him too.”
Trump first met Kim when they travelled to summit in Singapore last year.
The leaders signed a joint statement pledging to move toward an enduring peace and the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.
It was followed by a second round of nuclear talks earlier this year that fell apart without a deal.
Trump has teased the possibility of a third summit with Kim before next year’s US election.
JUST IN: Boris bombshell: Trump reveals he waited six years for new PM – ‘Wh…
The two world leaders often speak publicly about their written correspondence.
Trump praised Kim’s letters as “really beautiful” and “nice.”
He told reporters in June about a “very beautiful birthday card” he received from Kim.
This was just before making a historic first visit to the Korean Demilitarised Zone to meet with him.