What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A journalist has been dragged out of the Trump-Putin press conference by Secret Service agents after protesting over nuclear weapons.

Political journalist and activist Sam Husseini got into a scuffle with security forces in Helskini, Finland, where Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump addressed journalists.

Husseini, who writes for The Nation, held up a sign saying 'Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty' as he disrupted the conference just before the two leaders were set to take questions from the press.

Security officials had reportedly asked Husseini to leave the room earlier, and at that point he left peacefully.

However, he then suddenly returned carrying a hand-written sign - which Russian authorities reportedly called a "malicious item."

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: REUTERS)

"I want to ask a question about this issue," Husseini said as a security official attempted to snatch the sign from his hands.

"I want to ask about nuclear weapons," the journalist said as he was led out of the conference room.

Husseini is communications director of the Institute for Public Accuracy, a D.C-based nonprofit group that promotes progressive experts as alternative sources for mainstream media reporters.

He also writes opinion pieces for The Nation - A US publication focusing on political news, comment and analysis - which he had been accredited to cover the summit for.

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: REUTERS)

He had been hoping to ask the president about The Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty, which is the first legally binding international agreement to comprehensively prohibit nuclear weapons, with the goal of leading towards their total elimination. It was passed in July last year.

President Trump met one-on-one with Putin behind closed doors on Monday in a long-awaited summit.

The two then took part in a press conference during which President Trump said he had productive talks with Putin that had turned the corner on a relationship that had never been worse.

"If we are going to solve many of the problems facing our world, we will have to find ways to cooperate," he said.

(Image: REX/Shutterstock) (Image: REUTERS)

He said he had discussed a wide range of critical issues for both countries, including the war in Syria, Iran, global terrorism and nuclear arms control.

He also addressed the issue of alleged Russian interference in U.S. elections.

He said: "We made the first steps towards a brighter future, grounded on cooperation and peace.

"Refusing to engage will not accomplish anything."

And Putin said: "Negotiations with Trump took place in an open and constructive atmosphere, I find them rather successful and useful.

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: REUTERS)

"It is obvious to everyone that international relations live through a difficult period ... The Cold War has ended a long time ago, the situation in the world has drastically changed.

"Russia and the United States are now facing totally different challenges."

Putin said the meeting marked the first steps to restore "an acceptable level of trust and go back to previous level of interaction on all mutual interest issues".

"As far as Syria is concerned the task of establishing peace and reconciliation in this country could be the first showcase example of successful joint work."