WASHINGTON: Had Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin ever met before Friday’s highly anticipated encounter on the sidelines of an international summit in Germany? Both men now say the answer is no. But that wasn’t always the case for Trump.

Trump has offered contradictory descriptions regarding his relationship and contact with the Russian leader. A look back at some of Trump’s words on the subject:

— Trump was asked whether he had a relationship with Putin in a 2013 interview with NBC taped in Moscow ahead of that year’s Miss Universe pageant. “I do have a relationship, and I can tell you that he’s very interested in what we’re doing here today,” said Trump, who used to own the beauty contest. “He’s probably very interested in what you and I are saying today, and I’m sure he’s going to be seeing it in some form. But I do have a relationship with him.”

— Late-night night host David Letterman asked Trump during a 2013 interview whether he had a relationship with Russia ahead of the Miss Universe pageant.

“Well I’ve done a lot of business with the Russians,” Trump said, before being asked whether he’d met Putin personally. “He’s a tough guy. I met him once,” said Trump.

— During a May, 2014 speech in front of the National Press Club, Trump described having been in Moscow recently, “and I spoke indirectly and directly with President Putin, who could not have been nicer.” — In a 2015 interview with conservative talk-radio host Michael Savage, Trump was asked again point-blank whether he’d ever met Putin.

“Yes,” Trump said. “One time, yes. Long time ago.” “Got along with him great, by the way,” Trump added.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2017