The Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, denied last night that he said Mr George W. Bush could lean towards Sinn Fein's view on the peace process.
Speaking privately with journalists, Mr Mandelson had said Mr Bush voiced Sinn Fein sympathies during the contest for the Republican nomination.
However, he stressed that he had never suggested Mr Bush would be anything other than "even-handed".
Mr Mandelson was speaking after a media report that an unnamed senior British Minister had said Mr Bush had shifted his stance towards the IRA/Sinn Fein standpoint.
Mr Mandelson admitted the report was based on his comments but insisted his words were taken out of context.
"This story is complete and utter rubbish," he said.
"As anyone who was there knows, I said the opposite, which is that George W. Bush's approach would be even-handed towards the two traditions in Northern Ireland."
Aides said Mr Mandelson had been asked to sketch out the views of Mr Bush and his Democratic rival, Mr Al Gore, on the peace process.
The Northern Secretary had said the US political climate meant both candidates could not ignore the Irish-American lobby and that Mr Bush had courted key congressmen with Sinn Fein sympathies to secure the Republican nomination.
However, he went on to explain that that would not affect the way Mr Bush would handle the issue in office.