Obama 'warned Trump' about hiring Flynn as national security adviser

Word that Mr Obama directly warned Mr Trump suggests that concern over Mr Flynn's possible appointment spread to the highest level of government months before the official's departure.

Former president Barack Obama warned Donald Trump against hiring Michael Flynn as national security adviser during an Oval Office meeting after the 2016 election, according to three former Obama administration officials.

The information came hours before former acting attorney general Sally Yates was to testify to Congress about concerns she raised to the Trump administration about contacts between Mr Flynn and Russia.