The New York Times' Maggie Haberman: Mueller's press conference 'spooked' Trump since he likely didn't read the report

Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller said little in his press conference this week that wasn't already in his report. But it still might have touched a nerve with President Trump.

The New York Times' Maggie Haberman on Friday said on CNN that she doesn't believe Trump ever actually read the Mueller report, and so even though its findings have been public knowledge for weeks now, seeing Mueller discuss them on television was a big deal for the president.

"When he hears Mueller say that on TV, again, him interpreting everything through the screen that is in front of him, I think that that had much more resonance than almost anything else that has happened," Haberman said.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

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.

Sign up

Haberman went on to explain that Trump felt "pretty good" after Attorney General William Barr discussed the Mueller report favorably in a televised press conference. But then seeing Mueller go on TV this week and say that he couldn't determine that Trump did not commit a crime was a big deal — even though Mueller already said that in his report.

"[Trump] saw Mueller in the box, and I think that that spooked him," Haberman said. She added on Twitter that Mueller's statement was "significant" because for Trump, nothing is "real" unless "there are tapes or photos." Brendan Morrow