President Donald Trump and US officials seem confused over whether notes were taken during Trump's private meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore on Tuesday.
After the two leaders signed a
joint statement, Trump gave a
wide-ranging press conference. During this time, according to a White House
transcript, Trump and a person he refers to as "Mike," thought to be Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, appeared to be unsure whether notes were taken during a 38-minute one-on-one meeting with Kim earlier in the day.
This is the White House's official transcript, which was emailed to news outlets including Business Insider on Tuesday, featuring the second-to-last series of questions Trump responded to:
Q: Is there a transcript of (inaudible)?
THE PRESIDENT: What?
Q: Is there a transcript of (inaudible)?
THE PRESIDENT: Mike, do they have a transcript? They probably have a rough transcript, which you can give us, if you have one.
Q: So that was recorded?
THE PRESIDENT: No, they didn't record it. I don't think they recorded it. Are there any recordings of it? I wish there were. Because it is interesting stuff.
Q: (Inaudible.)
THE PRESIDENT: Say it?
Q: (Inaudible.)
THE PRESIDENT: I don't. We probably have some notes or something. But they have, actually, detailed notes, I would imagine. But we had a great conversation. It was a very heart-felt conversation.
Q: How do you believe (inaudible) verify —
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I don't have to verify because I have one of the great memories of all time. So I don't have to. Okay? Okay?
It appears that during the press conference, Trump asks Pompeo if a recording was made, to which the answer seems to be "no." Trump then said he wished it could have been recorded.