President Trump didn’t just meet with the Russian foreign minister and ambassador to the U.S. in the Oval Office last week. Trump, inexplicably, also disclosed highly classified information to the Russians during the tête-à-tête. The disclosure that Trump handed over information so sensitive that the U.S. had not shared it with American allies comes via the Washington Post’s reporting and was confirmed by others. As the president, Trump has unique leeway on personally disclosing classified information that would be highly illegal for anyone else to share, but the president put in jeopardy an intelligence source with knowledge of the inner workings of ISIS and went so far as to disclose the source’s location on the ground in Syria to the Russians. It’s an astonishing move by the president—and one without a clear strategic objective other than boasting (or blackmail?)—and one that prompted an outpouring of disbelief and concern from all sides.



An eloquent friend who has served at high levels just said to me, "For the first time in my life I'm at a loss for words." — Eliot A Cohen (@EliotACohen) May 15, 2017

This is appalling. If accidental, it would be a firing offense for anyone else. If deliberate, it would be treason. https://t.co/iWevZMIFt6 — Eliot A Cohen (@EliotACohen) May 15, 2017

"This is the serious charge ever made against a sitting president of the United States." Alan Dershowitz, just now on @CNN. — Paul Farhi (@farhip) May 15, 2017

Dear @realDonaldTrump: WaPo followed your advice & looked into the leaking of highly classified information. Turns out the leaker is you. https://t.co/heKrKbvs4N — Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) May 15, 2017

Ex-CIA officer to me on WaPo bombshell: "Whoever gave us the intel won't next time." — Michael Weiss (@michaeldweiss) May 15, 2017

I think we found him, cap. https://t.co/mipyVXQrEz — Anthony DeRosa🗽 (@Anthony) May 15, 2017

In the wake of the story, the Trump administration did what the Trump administration does.

McMaster tells reporters outside West Wing that Wash Post story is "false... I was in the room. It didn't happen." pic.twitter.com/g1tSzWfYIC — Jim Acosta (@Acosta) May 15, 2017

First comment on Washington Post report from Secretary of State Tillerson. pic.twitter.com/cV70WchOXr — Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) May 15, 2017

Deputy NSA Dina Powell to @Acosta: "This story is false. The president only discussed the common threats that both countries faced." — Dan Merica (@merica) May 15, 2017

Watch McMaster's statement carefully: “at no time were sources or methods discussed.” WaPo report never said Trump revealed sources/methods. pic.twitter.com/SF3rWDqKFi — Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) May 15, 2017

*This post has been updated.

