Mnuchin: Makes no sense ‘strategically’ for Trump to broadcast what he said in Putin meeting

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Sunday dodged a question about whether President Trump accepted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s denial of Russian election meddling.

During an interview on ABC’s “This Week,” Mnuchin questioned why Trump would reveal everything he said during his meeting on Friday with the Russian president.

Mnuchin said people should be focused on the substance of the meeting.

{mosads}”Why would Trump broadcast exactly what he said in the meeting?” Mnuchin asked. “Strategically that makes no sense.”

Mnuchin questioned why Trump should answer the question directly, adding he’s “made it very clear how he feels.”

“He’s made it very clear that he addressed it straight on and there was significant substance,” he said.

He noted he thinks Trump handled the meeting “brilliantly.”

President Trump early Sunday said he “strongly pressed” Putin during the G-20 summit on Russian meddling.

Trump did not say whether he accepted Putin’s denial, however.

Top administration officials on Saturday did not refute Putin’s claims that Trump seemed satisfied with the Russian leader’s denial that the Kremlin did not interfere in the 2016 presidential election.

Putin earlier in the day said at a press conference that he believes Trump is convinced by his assertion that his state did not interfere.