When a subordinate has a meeting with a superior at this level, that meeting's topic of conversation, and anything said within that meeting may be classified, but the decision to de-classify it does NOT ever reside with the subordinate, no matter if he is a person who can decide if something in his department is to be classified or declassify anything that has been classified by his subordinates. That declassification decision always rests with the superior at the meeting. Anything else is a "tail wagging the dog" chain of command, which cannot work.
In this instance, everything spoken of in a meeting with the President of the United States is automatically assumed to be at least of a confidential level, if not classified level, superior to subordinate. FBI Director Comey, obviously a subordinate, could never make the decision to declassify or release anything said between the President and him in those encounters without the permission of his superior in that meeting, the President. It is an understood given. Comey was an arrogant SOB to assume he could even write down what was spoken of in confidence where other eyes could possibly see what the President said unless the President specifically gave him permission to do so.
ABSOLUTELY INDEED. WELL PUT.