Trump’s mishandling of classified information reportedly forced the CIA to extract its top Russian spy


President Trump's administration bungled its handling of classified information so badly, the CIA had to extract one of its best spies from Russia, CNN's Jim Sciutto reports.
Early in Trump's administration, then-CIA Director Mike Pompeo warned fellow officials that "too much information was coming out regarding the covert source," putting their safety at risk, CNN writes. So the U.S. embarked on a secret and eventually successful 2017 mission to extract the spy from Russia — an "extraordinary remedy" the CIA would only perform "when U.S. intelligence believes an asset is in immediate danger," CNN continues.
Fears over the safety of this spy reportedly began at the end of former President Barack Obama's presidency because the spy had been cooperating with the U.S. for a while. Those worries continued to grow after U.S. intelligence released a report that included details about the spy. But it was Trump's personal handling of classified information that reportedly tipped the CIA over the edge, namely when he "discussed highly classified intelligence with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and then-Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak" in May 2017, CNN reports.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Weeks later, after the spy had been extracted, Trump officials remained concerned that Trump "may have improperly discussed classified intelligence" during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, CNN writes. That proposition drew from how Trump wouldn't let anyone see an interpreter's notes from the meeting at the G20 summit.
The CIA's public affairs director called CNN's reporting "inaccurate," while White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said "CNN's reporting is not only incorrect, it has the potential to put lives in danger." Read the whole report at CNN.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Today's political cartoons - March 29, 2025
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - my way or Norway, running orders, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 tactically sound cartoons about the leaked Signal chat
Cartoons Artists take on the clown signal, baby steps, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Roast lamb shoulder with ginger and fresh turmeric recipe
The Week Recommends Succulent and tender and falls off the bone with ease
By The Week UK Published
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff Published
-
Supreme Court upholds 'ghost gun' restrictions
Speed Read Ghost guns can be regulated like other firearms
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump sets 25% tariffs on auto imports
Speed Read The White House says the move will increase domestic manufacturing. But the steep import taxes could also harm the US auto industry.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump allies urge White House to admit chat blunder
Speed Read Even pro-Trump figures are criticizing The White House's handling of the Signal scandal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Waltz takes blame for texts amid calls for Hegseth ouster
Speed Read Democrats are calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Michael Waltz to step down
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge: Nazis treated better than Trump deportees
speed read U.S. District Judge James Boasberg reaffirmed his order barring President Donald Trump from deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US officials share war plans with journalist in group chat
Speed Read Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to a Signal conversation about striking Yemen
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Canada's Mark Carney calls snap election
speed read Voters will go to the polls on April 28 to pick a new government
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published