Trump: I Have The Right To Share Intel With Russia

The New York Times reports:

President Trump declared on Twitter early Tuesday that he had an “absolute right” to share with top Russian officials information about an Islamic State threat during a White House meeting last week. He spoke out after multiple news accounts emerged that he had disclosed classified information to the Russian officials, possibly jeopardizing a relationship with an intelligence-sharing ally.

The intelligence that Mr. Trump disclosed, according to officials, was about an Islamic State plot. Both Russia and the United States are battling the terrorist group. But the disclosure could have inadvertently unmasked the methods and spies of an American ally working inside Syria who had provided it to the United States, while Russia and the United States are backing opposite sides in the Syrian civil war.

As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining….

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2017

…to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2017