Vladimir Putin soccer ball gift to Donald Trump gets security check

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham tweeted after the exchange that he’d have the ball checked for listening devices and “never allow it in the White House after Putin gave a soccer ball to Trump during Helsinki summit.

The red-and-white soccer ball tossed to President Donald Trump by Russia’s Vladimir Putin is undergoing a routine security screening.

U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, left, Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, and U.S. President Donald Trump, pose with a soccer ball after a press conference following their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, Monday, July 16, 2018. (AP File Photo)

The U.S. Secret Service says that’s standard for all gifts to the president.

During a joint news conference after their summit this week in Finland, Putin used soccer metaphors and was handed a soccer ball that he tossed to Trump.

Russia hosted the 2018 World Cup. Trump said he’d give the ball to his 12-year-old son Barron, a soccer fan.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Putin critic, tweeted after the exchange that he’d have the ball checked for listening devices and “never allow it in the White House.”

Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told a security conference he’s sure the ball “has been looked at very carefully.”