The Signal

Trump reportedly gave Russians ‘great intel’

Classified info spill could damage source

- Jessica Estepa @jmestepa USA TODAY Contributi­ng: David Jackson, Erin Kelly, Heidi M. Przybyla

President Trump told “highly classified informatio­n” to the Russian foreign minister and ambassador during a meeting at the White House last week, according to a new report.

The Washington Post, citing current and former U.S. officials, reported that the details Trump provided Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak were so sensitive that they had been withheld from allies — and under close hold within the U.S. government as well.

The disclosed informatio­n could damage a critical source of intelligen­ce on the Islamic State. According to the Post, the president boasted of his knowledge of a looming threat. “I get great intel,” Trump said. “I have people brief me on great intel every day.”

He allegedly revealed a city in the Islamic State’s territory where a U.S. partner detected the threat.

According to the Post, senior White House officials called the CIA and National Security Agency to try to “contain the damage.”

Sen. Mark Warner, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligen­ce Committee said that if the news was true, it was “a slap in the face to the intel community.”

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., called the news “deeply disturbing.”

Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, the president’s national security adviser, joked: “This is the last place in the world I want to be . ... I’m leaving.”

 ?? RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY VIA AP ?? President Trump meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, left, and Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak at the White House.
RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY VIA AP President Trump meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, left, and Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak at the White House.

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