Most Republicans are on President Trump's side, a new CBS poll finds, in the public debate and federal investigation over whether Trump or people close to him colluded with Russia to meddle in the 2016 election. A majority of GOP respondents indicated they believe Trump's word over that of fired FBI Director James Comey and think the president is handling the Russia issue well.
That support is what makes their opposition to Trump's rumored interest in firing Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is heading the investigation, so striking: Fully 75 percent of Republicans — barely below the national average of 81 percent — say Trump should not fire Mueller.
Trump has reportedly received the same wise counsel from White House aides who understand the terrible optics of firing a man selected to be an impartial investigator of your own behavior. Read The Week's Simon Maloy here on why those optics may not be enough to stay Trump's hand.