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

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin held a secret meeting at the G20 summit, it emerged tonight.

The White House confirmed the two leaders met for a second, undisclosed meeting in Hamburg, Germany, two weeks ago.

The US and Russian presidents held a two-hour meeting on July 7 in which Trump later said Putin denied allegations that he directed efforts to meddle in the 2016 US election.

Trump and Putin first met at the G20 during a gathering of other leaders, which was shown in a video.

They later held the bilateral meeting, which was attended briefly by a pool of reporters.

In the evening, both men attended a dinner with G20 leaders. Putin was seated next to first lady Melania Trump.

(Image: Barcroft) (Image: REUTERS)

The US president went over to them at the conclusion of the dinner and visited with Putin, the official said. That conversation had not been previously disclosed.

"There was no 'second meeting' between President Trump and President Putin, just a brief conversation at the end of a dinner. The insinuation that the White House has tried to 'hide' a second meeting is false, malicious and absurd," the official said.

In a tweet late on Tuesday, Trump said: "Fake News story of secret dinner with Putin is "sick." All G 20 leaders, and spouses, were invited by the Chancellor of Germany. Press knew!"

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

The revelation comes after Trump said he and the Russian leader get along "very, very well".

But the US President also claimed Putin would have been happier with Hillary Clinton in the White House.

The President said would have preferred Clinton because she would not have spent as much on the US military as he plans to.

In an interview with Christian Broadcasting Network founder Pat Robertson last week, Trump said: "If Hillary had won, our military would be decimated.

(Image: AFP)

"Our energy would be much more expensive. That's what Putin doesn't like about me.

“And that's why I say, why would he want me? Because from day one I wanted a strong military — he doesn't want to see that."

Trump said his lengthy meeting with Putin at the G20 summit was a good sign and showed the two countries can work together on issues like the ceasefire in Syria.

He added: "I think we get along very, very well. We are a tremendously powerful nuclear power, and so are they. It doesn't make sense not to have some kind of relationship."

(Image: REUTERS)

His comments came as his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, was at the centre of a scandal over his meeting with a Russian lawyer to get dirt on then-Democratic candidate Clinton

The interview also came as Trump had an article of impeachment introduced against him for obstruction of justice by two US Congressmen.

(Image: AFP)

Democratic member Brad Sherman initially drafted and circulated the articles last month but has now formally introduced them.

It accuses the President of obstruction of justice and seeking to "use his authority to hinder and cause the termination" of an investigation into former national security advisor Michael Flynn, including "through threatening, and then terminating, James Comey".

The articles have been seconded by Congressman Al Green as both democratic members believe the President’s conversations over the firing of former FBI Director James Comey constitute obstruction of justice.

(Image: EPA) (Image: REUTERS)

Sherman said: "I am pleased that Congressman Al Green has joined me in filing Articles of Impeachment against Donald J. Trump.

"We now begin the effort to force the House Judiciary Committee to hold hearings on Obstruction of Justice and Russian interference in our election.

He added: “Such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office."

Sherman's made the move to impeach the President came despite concern among Democrats that taking such aggressive action against Trump would create backlash against the party.

He has previously admitted no other members had signed on to support his proposal.

The article will need 218 votes to pass the House of Representatives, which is currently controlled by the Republicans.

Sherman has previously been called "selfish" by a fellow Democrat.