Senate Intelligence wants information about Trump's disclosure to Russians

"What I'm saying is really the premise of that (Washington Post) article was false, that in any way the president had a conversation that was inappropriate or resulted in any kind of lapse in national security". Trump has frequently said he wants to improve USA relations with Moscow, damaged by years of disagreement over Russia's role in Ukraine and its backing for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Trump defended himself in a tweet Tuesday by saying he had an "absolute right" to share what he wanted. Trump's tweets did not say whether he revealed classified information about the Islamic State, as published reports have said and as a us official told The Associated Press.

Even Republicans from Trump-friendly districts called for more information from the White House.

"Regrettably, the time President Trump spent sharing sensitive information with the Russians was time he did not spend focusing on Russia's aggressive behavior, including its interference in American and European elections, its illegal invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea, its other destabilizing activities across Europe, and the slaughter of innocent civilians and targeting of hospitals in Syria", McCain said in a statement Tuesday.

Trump tried to explain away the situation in a series of tweets, writing that he had the "absolute right" to share "facts pertaining to terrorism" with the Russian officials.

"The reason is that the very goal of the classification system is to protect information the President, usually through his subordinates, thinks sensitive", attorneys wrote in the blog post reacting to the reports.

National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster conducts a briefing Tuesday morning at the White House. It's never a good thing for a president to be at odds with the very people who are tasked with keeping the country safe.

The Washington Post reported Monday evening that Trump revealed "code-word information" to the Russian foreign minister and ambassador in a White House meeting last week, citing anonymous sources.

US officials said Trump discussed intelligence about Islamic State with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak at last Wednesday's meeting.The officials said the information had been supplied by a USA ally in the fight against the militant group.

European official says country might stop sharing info with U.S.

Analysis of the denial by the Post said its report did not say Trump disclosed intelligence sources or methods or publicly known military operations. I was in the room.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who on Monday declined to comment on Trump's disclosures, said Tuesday that he wished the White House would produce "less drama".

Early responses to the bombshell report indicate that, if true, handling sensitive details in this manner would have broad implications on USA partnerships around the world and could place the lives of agents in the field at risk.

"This action is a threat to our national security, endangers diplomatic relations, and calls into question the administration's decision making", she said in a statement. "This confuses me to no end".

"What the president discussed with the foreign minister was wholly appropriate to that conversation", McMaster said at a news briefing. Some analysts, however, said the reports could undermine trust between partners. Kaine said, using another term for the Islamic State group. "You've got to be kidding me".

President Donald Trump held his first face-to-face talks with Turkey's president amid accusations that Trump gave Russian officials classified intelligence from an ally. "It's going to go to the Syrians, It's going to go to the Iranians - Russian allies", Baer said.

The New York Times story added that, while the president has broad declassification powers, the ally whose intel was shared "has repeatedly warned American officials that it would cut off access to such sensitive information if it were shared too widely". He is not just another personality. "He is President of the United States", he said Tuesday on "New Day".

McConnell also says he recommended to Trump that he nominate Merrick Garland to replace fired FBI Director James Comey.