Trump reportedly pressured Rod Rosenstein to declare his loyalty too


During a meeting in December, President Trump asked Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein if he was "on my team," CNN reported Wednesday. Rosenstein's reply was apparently diplomatic: "Of course, we are all on your team, Mr. President."
Trump's question reportedly came as he asked Rosenstein for information about Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. CNN notes that "it is not clear what Trump meant or how Rosenstein interpreted the comment," but the deputy attorney general was apparently "surprised" by the question as well as by how the meeting unfolded. CNN says that Rosenstein had come to the White House hoping to secure the president's support in dealing with repeated document requests from House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), but Trump instead questioned him about Mueller's probe.
The president, CNN reports, also asked Rosenstein several questions about his then-upcoming appearance before the House Judiciary Committee. Former FBI Director James Comey in June submitted a statement to the Senate Intelligence Committee claiming that Trump had asked for his loyalty — a request Comey says he refused. Trump fired Comey shortly thereafter.
Subscribe to 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.
During his testimony to the House, which took place just days after his meeting with Trump, Rosenstein denied that he'd ever been asked for any type of "loyalty pledge" by any elected official.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kelly O'Meara Morales is a staff writer at The Week. He graduated from Sarah Lawrence College and studied Middle Eastern history and nonfiction writing amongst other esoteric subjects. When not compulsively checking Twitter, he writes and records music, subsists on tacos, and watches basketball.
-
When did divorce begin?
The Explaine Couples have always split up, but the institution has undergone major changes over the years
By David Faris
-
What are your retirement savings account options?
The explainer The two main types of accounts are 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs)
By Becca Stanek, The Week US
-
7 tranquil hotels worth the trek
The Week Recommends Find serenity off the beaten path
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US
-
Hegseth reportedly shared war plans in 2nd group text
Speed Read The defense secretary sent information about an attack in Yemen to a Signal group chat that included his wife and brother
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Judge threatens Trump team with criminal contempt
Speed Read James Boasberg attempts to hold the White House accountable for disregarding court orders over El Salvador deportation flights
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Biden slams Trump's Social Security cuts
Speed Read In his first major public address since leaving office, Biden criticized the Trump administration's 'damage' and 'destruction'
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
El Salvador refuses to return US deportee
Speed Read President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said he would not send back the unlawfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump says electronics tariff break won't last
Speed Read The tariff exemptions on smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices are temporary, the administration says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Man charged in arson attack on Pennsylvania's Shapiro
Speed Read Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were sleeping when someone set fire to his Harrisburg mansion
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
White House pushes for oversight of Columbia University
Speed Read The Trump administration is considering placing the school under a consent decree
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Supreme Court backs wrongly deported migrant
Speed Read The Trump administration must 'facilitate' the return of wrongfully deported migrant Kilmar Ábrego García from El Salvador, Supreme Court says
By Peter Weber, The Week US