President Trump on Wednesday cheered Russia’s hosting of the World Cup, but he wouldn’t say if he would go to the final match as a guest of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The White House is planning a Trump-Putin meeting in Moscow that likely would occur around the same time as the World Cup final July 15.
Mr. Trump said Russia was doing a “fantastic job” hosting the tournament.
“It’s exciting. My son loves soccer and he loves watching the World Cup and they have really done a fantastic job,” Mr. Trump told reporters during an Oval Office meeting with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
Mr. Trump wouldn’t pick a favorite team.
He also wouldn’t speculate about watching the final with Mr. Putin.
National Security Adviser John Bolton on Wednesday met with Mr. Putin in Moscow — with making arrangements for a Trump-Putin meeting on the agenda.
“He met with President Putin. I don’t have the full report yet,” said Mr. Trump. “I have always said meeting with Russia and China is a very good thing — good to the world.”
The president said that a meeting with Mr. Putin might take place somewhere in Europe during his trip next month to a NATO summit and Britain.
He said talks with Mr. Putin would include tough issues of Syria and Ukraine, where the U.S. and Russia have been at odds.
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
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