Democrat Hillary Clinton's campaign needled Republican Donald Trump on Tuesday over his suggestion that if he is elected president, he might hold a pre-inaugural meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, joking that any strategy session would be redundant.

"It's unclear why Donald Trump needs to meet with Vladimir Putin on November 9 since he's already repeating all his talking points, pushing his policy agenda and taking advantage of his espionage operation," Clinton spokesman Glen Caplin said. "Rest assured that as president, Hillary Clinton will stand up to Putin in the face of his unacceptable behaviour, not coddle him."

Trump said Monday that he would be willing to meet with Putin before Inauguration Day if he is elected president on November 8. Such a meeting would break sharply with the precedent that a newly elected president defers to the sitting one in matters of state.

"I think I could see myself meeting with Putin and meeting with Russia prior to the start of the administration," Trump told conservative radio host Michael Savage during an interview. "I think it would be wonderful."