Secretary of State Rex Tillerson indicated Monday that President Trump won’t be apologizing to Israeli officials he visits this week after reportedly sharing intelligence with Russian officials that came from Israel.
“I don’t know that there’s anything to apologize for,” Tillerson said aboard Air Force One en route to Israel from Saudi Arabia, according to a pool report. President Trump and his team landed there early Monday morning, eastern standard time.
That incident, which happened earlier this month when Trump met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak, was seen as a major misstep that had Israel fuming about Trump’s inability to keep intelligence confidential.
It also left Republicans and Democrats alike worried that Trump is not getting sound advice about what he can and cannot say.
However, several experts have said it’s the president’s right to declassify whatever he wants. And Trump himself tweeted that he had the “absolute right” to share any intelligence he wants.
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
