They said it was considered so sensitive that details have been withheld from allies and tightly restricted even within the USA government, the Associated Press reports.
The anonymous officials told the Post that the information Trump relayed during the May 10 meeting had been provided by a US partner through an intelligence-sharing arrangement. The information - provided by another, as-yet-unnamed country - dealt with plans by the Islamic State to use laptop computers as weapons, and was so sensitive it had been withheld from allies and under close hold within the USA government as well.
"As President I wanted to share with Russian Federation (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety", he wrote in an early morning tweet.
The disclosure rocked the administration as it struggled to move past the backlash over Trump's abrupt firing on May 9 of FBI Director James Comey, whose agency was investigating potential ties between Russian Federation and Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.
Asked on Bloomberg about the report Tuesday morning, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said, "I think we can do with a little less drama from the White House on a lot of things so that we can focus on our agenda which is deregulations, tax reform, repealing and replacing Obamacare".
No US media were allowed into the meeting. Trump has frequently said he wants better relations with Moscow.
The "facts" discussed included terrorism and airline flight safety, according to Trump, who noted that he wants Russian Federation to "greatly step up their fight" against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL). An excerpt from an official transcript of the meeting reveals that Trump told them, "I get great intel".
"During President Trump's meeting with Foreign Minister Lavrov, a broad range of subjects were discussed, among which were common efforts and threats regarding counterterrorism", said Tillerson. "At no time, at no time were intelligence sources or methods discussed. National Security is at risk by leaks like this", said McMaster, who was present at the meeting with Russian officials at the White House. He's expected to be warmly received by Arab allies in Saudi Arabia, who welcomed his decision to launch missiles against a Syrian air base following a chemical weapons attack, and in Israel, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu views Trump as more favourable to his interests than former President Barack Obama.
In other words, McMaster wasn't disputing any of the details in the Post's report; he was simply saying that the president's actions were somehow appropriate.
He said: "We had a very, very successful meeting with the Foreign Minister of Russian Federation".
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The newspaper said the intelligence Trump shared concerned a Daesh threat about how to make laptop bombs that prompted the U.S. and U.K.in March to ban electronic devices in cabins on flights from Muslim-majority countries.
Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2017.to terrorism and airline flight safety. Two other senior officials who were present, including the secretary of the state, remember the meeting the same way and have said so.
The disclosure put a source of intelligence on the Islamic State at risk, according to The Washington Post, which first reported the disclosure on Monday.
"I was in the room", he added. "It didn't happen", added McMaster. "Revealing classified information at this level is extremely risky and puts at risk the lives of Americans and those who gather intelligence for our country".
"Given the gravity of the matter, we need to be able to quickly assess whether or not this report is true and what exactly was said", Schumer said, speaking on the Senate floor amid reports that Trump disclosed intelligence information to senior Russian officials last week.
"The reports that the President shared sensitive intelligence with Russian officials are deeply disturbing". "This story is false".
On Capitol Hill, Democrats and Republicans alike expressed concern about the president's disclosures. Sen.
Soon after the report was published, the administration contended that it was false and that Trump did not reveal sources of intelligence, methods of gathering intelligence or military operations.
Trump repeatedly assailed his Democratic rival in the presidential election, Hillary Clinton, for her handling of classified information by email while she was secretary of state.
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