Soccer ball Putin gifted to Trump gets routine security screening

The soccer ball that Russian President Vladimir Putin gifted to President Trump at their Helsinki summit earlier this week is reportedly undergoing a security screening.
The U.S. Secret Service said that the security check was routine for all gifts given to the president, according to The Associated Press.
Trump’s Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats had said during a security conference this week that he was sure the World Cup ball “has been looked at very carefully.”
{mosads}
Putin handed the ball to Trump during their joint press conference on Monday. Trump tossed the ball to first lady Melania Trump, saying he would give it to their son Barron Trump.
The gift from Putin raised some eyebrows, including from GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.), who warned Trump to “check the soccer ball for listening devices.”
“If it were me, I’d check the soccer ball for listening devices and never allow it in the White House,” Graham tweeted.
Finally, if it were me, I’d check the soccer ball for listening devices and never allow it in the White House.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) July 16, 2018
Trump praised Putin multiple times at their summit for Russia hosting this year’s World Cup.
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.