Donald Trump received probation as part of his sentencing for his conviction in the New York Hush Money case.
The former US president was interviewed virtually by a Manhattan court probation officer from his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.
A source told BBC news partner CBS News that Trump was accompanied by his lawyer Todd Blanche.
Probation officers will complete a pre-sentence report for Judge Juan Merchan through routine interviews lasting less than 30 minutes.
President Trump was found guilty last month on 34 counts of falsifying business records and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11.
A spokeswoman for the New York mayor’s office said defendants were given the option of being interviewed in person or via video link.
One expert told the BBC that there would be further exceptions due to the high-profile nature of Trump’s case.
Former New York Supreme Court Justice Diane Kiesel said it would be too intrusive for a former president to come to New York City’s probation office.
“The press will be all over the building and the Secret Service will have to be there,” she said. “It makes more sense to do it this way.”
Prisoners in New York’s court system typically do not have lawyers present for their probation interviews, Mr. Kiesel added.
But Judge Merchan allowed Mr Blanche to appear with his client on Monday.
A pre-sentence report includes information about almost every aspect of a prisoner’s life, including where and when he was born, marriage, criminal history, financial means, health, and overall lifestyle.
The probation officer probably asked Trump to talk about the crimes he was convicted of, Mr. Kiesel said.
She said most defendants would simply say they would appeal the ruling, as President Trump said, or decline to comment.
The report is used to tell the judge what punishment to impose.
Interviews are often an opportunity for prisoners to argue for leniency in their sentences.
The interview reports are confidential and will only be released to the judge, defendant and attorneys in the case, Mr. Kiesel said.
Jurors found Trump guilty of falsifying business records to conceal hush money he paid to former porn star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Most legal commentators believe Trump is unlikely to face prison time, given his criminal record and lack of age.
Trump is presumed to be the Republican presidential candidate.
He has repeatedly claimed that New York prosecutors are politically motivated and an attempt to prevent him from reclaiming the White House in the November election.
