White House official on Russia's release of Oval Office photos: 'They tricked us'

Trump meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (second left), and Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergei Kislyak (fourth from right). (Photos: Russian Foreign Ministry Photo via AP)

A White House official is accusing Russian officials of lying after a state news agency released photographs of President Trump meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergei Kislyak.

"They tricked us," an unnamed White House official told CNN. "That's the problem with the Russians — they lie."

Photos taken by a Russian state news media photographer were posted online shortly after of Wednesday's meeting in the Oval Office, a day after Trump's controversial firing of FBI Director James Comey amid an investigation into possible collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia.

The White House did not allow U.S. press into the room, but there was an official White House photographer present. The White House did not release its own photos of the meeting.

Russia also posted video of Lavrov responding sarcastically to Comey's firing during a meeting with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.


"You're kidding," Lavrov responded to a question about Comey being fired.