Report: Trump Shared Secret Info About Islamic State With Russians

Update: Monday, 4:43 p.m. PT

President Trump revealed highly classified information about Islamic State militants to Russian officials during a meeting at the White House last week, the Washington Post reported Monday.

The newspaper cited current and former U.S. officials who said Trump shared details about an Islamic State terror threat with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. The threat was related to the use of laptop computers on aircraft.

National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster told reporters outside the White House that the "story that came out tonight as reported is false."

"At no time were intelligence sources or methods discussed, and the president did not disclose any military operation that were not already publicly known," McMaster said. However, the Post story and other subsequent reports didn't say that it was sources, methods or military operations discussed, but simply classified information.

"I was in the room, and it didn't happen," McMaster said at the end of his abrupt statement. He departed without taking questions.

"This is the last place in the world I wanted to be. I'm leaving. I'm leaving," he said when questioned by reporters.

The Post said the intelligence partner had not given the United States permission to share the material with Russian officials. By doing so, Trump jeopardized cooperation from an ally familiar with the inner workings of the Islamic State group.

Afterward, White House officials took steps to contain the damage, placing calls to the CIA and the National Security Agency, the newspaper said.

It's unlikely that Trump has broken any law. As president, Trump has broad authority to declassify government secrets.

Lawmakers from both parties were quick to weigh in.

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters Monday evening that the Trump White House "has got to do something soon to bring itself under control and order."

He said he would have more to say when he knows more about the news report.

"The shame of it is there's a really good national security team in place and there are good, productive things that are under way through them and through others," Corker said. "But the chaos that is being created by the lack of discipline — it's creating an environment that I think makes — it creates a worrisome environment."

The story prompted Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., to tweet: "Protip: Don't give the Russians classified information. #Classified101."

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., tweeted: "If true, this is a slap in the face to the intel community. Risking sources & methods is inexcusable, particularly with the Russians."

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.