Former NBA player Dennis Rodman gets emotional during an interview with CNN on June 12. Screen capture from CNN





Former NBA star Dennis Rodman openly wept on television in a live interview from Singapore as President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met for the first time.



The eccentric former reality television star is one of the few westerners to have spent time with Kim during multiple visits to Pyongyang and the two struck up an unlikely friendship over their shared love of basketball. Rodman also goes back years with Trump and appeared on his "Celebrity Apprentice" show.



In an emotional with CNN's Chris Cuomo, Rodman, wearing sunglasses and a "Make America Great Again"' hat, said he had received a call from the White House ahead of Trump's historic meeting with Kim ― the first between a sitting president and North Korean leader.



"Yes, Donald Trump reached out,"' Rodman said, telling Cuomo he'd received a call from a person he described as Trump's secretary.



"She called me and said, 'Dennis, Donald Trump is so proud of you. He thanks you a lot.' And that means a lot,"' said Rodman. He added that he suspected he "somewhat had something to do with this North Korean situation."



The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the call.



Rodman grew emotional in the interview as he recalled former President Barack Obama failing to take him seriously when he returned from Pyongyang with a message from Kim after one of his trips.



Rodman said Obama "just brushed me off" and "didn't even give me the time of day."





Dennis Rodman arrives at Changi Airport in Singapore, June 12. REUTERS-Yonhap