McMaster claims Trump 'wasn't even aware' of sources of revealed intelligence information

National Security Advisor H. R. McMaster.
(Image credit: OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP/Getty Images)

National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster briefed the press Tuesday regarding reports President Trump disclosed highly sensitive intelligence information to Russian officials. McMaster said Trump's conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak was "wholly appropriate," and said Trump "wasn't even aware" of where the information he revealed "came from."

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Experts had said Trump's disclosure could have compromised intelligence sources. McMaster said Trump "wasn't briefed on the sources and methods" of the intelligence collection, and insisted Trump "in no way compromised any sources or methods in the course of this conversation."

McMaster deemed the "premise" of the reports "false," though he did not deny that Trump relayed classified information from an ally to Russian officials.

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