In today's meeting between Putin and Trump, Americans are grossly outmatched

(Image credit: BPA via Getty Images)

With President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled to have their first face-to-face conversation on Friday, many experts are already wondering if the American president isn't "glibly walking into a trap where he will be played by the Russian leader," as The New York Times writes.

The meeting will last just 30 minutes but could cover pressing topics including Syria, North Korea, and Ukraine. Many analysts say it is likely to be a win for Putin, who has ample opportunity to spin the story afterwards to show Trump as weak, compromising, or unwilling to confront Russia over abundant evidence of election meddling.

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National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster has said Trump and his team have "no specific agenda" for the meeting.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.