The Federal Government has questioned the authenticity of a statement reportedly made by President Donald Trump describing President Muhammadu Buhari as a “lifeless leader.”

Trump made the statement shortly after a meeting between the two leaders on April 30, Financial Times reported on Monday.

Buhari, the first sub-Saharan Africa president to meet Trump since he was sworn in as the 45th American president, was in the US for bilateral talks.

Reacting, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said that if Trump said so, it would be of no significance since the President of the United States of America had earlier publicly endorsed Buhari.

Mohammed told Punch, “I doubt the authenticity of the claim that the President of the USA said that.

“But if truly he said so, then it is of no significance to us.

“This is because the same Trump publicly endorsed and applauded the President for a job well done.”

DAILY