The White House said Wednesday President Trump wrote a letter of introduction for Republican Sen. Rand Paul to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Kentucky senator touted the letter earlier Wednesday morning, saying he was “honored to deliver a letter from President Trump to President Vladimir Putin’s administration.”
The White House later clarified that it was written as a means of introduction for the senator, who wanted to meet with Mr. Putin.
“At Senator Paul’s request, President Trump provided a letter of introduction. In the letter, the President mentioned topics of interest that Senator Paul wanted to discuss with President Putin,” deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley said in a statement to pool reporters.
Mr. Paul shared that the letter promoted Mr. Trump’s desire to work with Russia on “countering terrorism, enhancing legislative dialogue and resuming cultural exchanges.”