May 10, 2017 - Politics & Policy

From Russia with love: Kremlin shares Trump-Lavrov photo

Photos from Trump's Oval Office meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov surfaced online from the Kremlin — not from American press, because the meeting was closed.

Why it matters: Americans are learning about what Trump is doing with Russia from Russia, not from the White House. This strengthens the criticism that the Trump admin lacks transparency, especially when he hasn't held a press conference on James Comey, who was in the middle of investigating Russian interference into the 2016 presidential election.

Update: The White House issued a readout on the meeting Wednesday afternoon, noting Trump and Lavrov discussed Syria, Ukraine, the Middle East, and building a "better relationship" between the U.S. and Russia.

Another surprise: Trump also met with Russian Ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak, but this meeting wasn't announced beforehand. When American media was finally allowed in the Oval Office, they were greeted by Trump accompanied by Henry Kissinger, not Lavrov nor Kislyak.

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