The Washington Post report that President Donald Trump gave classified information to Russian officials is a "complete disaster," former U.S. ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul said Monday.
"This is a complete disaster. It's an embarrassment," Michael McFaul told Greta Van Susteren on MSNBC's "On The Record With Greta Van Susteren" program.
"It will undermine our credibility in working with intelligence agencies that are vital to defending America's national interests… It's just inexcusable that this happens and it's inexcusable for the White House national security staff, too," he added.
McFaul, who served under President Barack Obama as Russian ambassador from 2012 to 2014, said that Russia is not an ally of the U.S.
"Without disclosing things I know, I just would be careful to assume that Russia has our exact interests in mind and we are aligned with them in Syria. That is just not true," he said.
On Monday, The Washington Post reported Trump discussed classified details about Islamic State threats during a White House visit with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.
"Somebody very close to the president decided this was such a big mistake they had to tell the world about it," McFaul told Van Susteren, and he congratulated The Washington Post reporters for a "great scoop."
Later Monday night, McFaul also weighed in on the situation during an appearance on MSNBC's "The Eleventh Hour with Brian Williams."
"Just judging by the reporting, it appears that the president wanted to show off what he knew," McFaul said.
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