The White House on Monday clarified that first lady Melania Trump Melania TrumpWatchdog confirms State Dept. canceled award for journalist who criticized Trump Ginsburg becomes the first woman to lie in state in the Capitol Rabbi memorializes Ginsburg: Her dissents were 'blueprints for the future' MORE has not met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Kim Jong UnNorth Korean leader Kim apologizes over killing of South Korean official Pelosi knocks Trump over refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power Satellite images indicate North Korea preparing for massive military parade MORE after President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE suggested at a press conference earlier in the day that she knew the dictator well.

The president was likening the prospect of negotiations with Iran to his efforts to denuclearize North Korea during a press conference to cap his visit to the Group of Seven (G-7) summit. Trump praised Kim, who he said recognizes the country's economic possibilities.

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"Kim Jong Un — who I’ve gotten to know extremely well; the first lady has gotten to know Kim Jong Un, and I think she’d agree with me — he is a man with a country that has tremendous potential,” Trump said.

Cameras briefly showed the first lady sitting in the audience, where she remained expressionless.

The White House released a statement Monday afternoon about the remarks.

“President Trump confides in his wife on many issues including the detailed elements of his strong relationship with Chairman Kim — and while the First Lady hasn’t met him, the President feels like she’s gotten to know him too," said White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham Stephanie GrishamIvana Trump on Melania as first lady: 'She's very quiet, and she really doesn't go to too many places' The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump uses White House as campaign backdrop Coronavirus tests not required for all Melania Trump speech attendees: report MORE, who also served as Melania Trump's spokeswoman.

The first lady has not been present for any of the three face-to-face meetings between Trump and Kim.

The two leaders first met in Singapore in June 2018. Melania Trump was unable to fly at the time following a kidney procedure.

Melania Trump was not present when her husband met with Kim in Vietnam earlier this year, nor was she there was the president stopped in the Demilitarized Zone in June.

Trump has indicated he expects to meet with Kim again. Talks have thus far failed to yield concrete progress on denuclearization, and North Korea has resumed testing of short-range missiles.

The president has said he does not believe the launches violate any agreement, though allies have said they breach a United Nations security resolution.