Trump says he has no plans to fire Robert Mueller


Despite new public tensions between the White House and Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office, and increasingly strident criticism from conservative pundits of Mueller's Trump-Russia investigation, President Trump told reporters Sunday night that he is not planning to fire Mueller. "No, I'm not," he said when asked outside the White House. He added that how the investigation is being conducted is "not looking good," though, saying "my people were very upset to see" emails from his presidential transition team handed over to Mueller and that there was "no collusion" between his campaign and Russia.
Earlier Sunday, several White House officials said there has been no discussion of firing Mueller in the White House. "As the White House has repeatedly and emphatically said for months, there is no consideration about firing or replacing the special counsel with whom the White House has fully cooperated in order to permit a fully vetted yet prompt conclusion," Trump lawyer Ty Cobb, who's overseeing the Russia investigations response, said in a statement.
"Trump has watched Fox News Channel segments attacking Mueller's investigation, advisers said, including those by Jeanine Pirro," The Washington Post reports, but according to Trump friends and associates, the president blames Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein more for the investigation than Mueller.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
DOJ indicts John Bolton over classified files
Speed Read Continuing the trend of going after his political enemies, Trump prosecutes his former national security adviser
-
Trump, Putin set summit as Zelenskyy lands in DC
Speed Read Trump and Putin have agreed to meet in Budapest soon to discuss ending the war in Ukraine
-
Courts deal setbacks to Trump’s Chicago operations
Speed Read President Donald Trump cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
-
Supreme Court points to gutting Voting Rights Act
speed read States would no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional maps
-
Trump says he authorized covert CIA ops in Venezuela
Speed Read He is also considering military strikes inside the country
-
‘Vile, racist’ leaked chats roil Young Republicans
Speed Read Leaders of Young Republican groups made racist, antisemitic and violent comments in private chats
-
Trump ties $20B Argentina bailout to Milei votes
speed read Trump will boost Argentina’s economy — if the country’s right-wing president wins upcoming elections