evidence: Donald Trump's handling of United States government records, especially those containing classified information, during his tenure as the 45th U.S. president has come under scrutiny. A number of incidents in which the president disclosed classified information to foreign powers and private individuals have become publicly known, sometimes with distinct national security and diplomatic consequences.[1] [...] 2017 Oval Office incident with Russia [edit]President Donald Trump discussed classified information during an Oval Office meeting on May 10, 2017, with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. The information was provided by a U.S. ally and concerned a planned Islamic State (ISIL) operation, providing sufficient detail that the Russians could use to deduce the identity of the ally and the manner in which it was collected, according to current and former government officials.[27][28][29][30][31] The meeting had been closed to the U.S. press, although a photographer from the Russian press contingent was present.[26] The disclosure was first reported in The Washington Post on May 15, 2017. White House staff initially denied the report, but the following day, Trump defended the disclosure, stating that he has the "absolute right" to "share" intelligence with Russia.[32] [...] - ^ Shapero, Julia (July 4, 2023). "Former Trump press secretary says he showed classified documents to people on Mar-a-Lago dining patio". The Hill. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.