July 24, 2019

Trump Kicks Off Mueller Day With Greatest Hits of Attacks Against Special Counsel

The president took aim at Clinton, McCabe, Comey—and even suggested Mueller should have investigated himself.

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 24:U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media about the Mueller report before departing from the White House on July 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. Today former special counsel Robert Mueller testified before the House Judiciary and Intelligence Committees on his reports findings. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)Mark Wilson/Getty

Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily.

With the clock ticking before former special counsel Robert Mueller’s testimony before Congress, President Donald Trump blasted the highly anticipated hearings as unfair and falsely accused his political opponents of fabricating crimes against him. 

The president also complained about a last-minute request by Mueller to have his longtime aide, Aaron Zebley, testify with him as a witness before the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees. The Judiciary Committee ultimately denied the request but allowed Zebley to appear with Mueller should the former special counsel require assistance during the hearings.

Still, Trump framed the arrangement as a violation of what had been agreed upon, even though the White House lacks a role in determining how the hearings are organized. He continued his rant by taking aim at Hillary Clinton, James Comey, Andrew McCabe, and other usual targets, even suggesting that Mueller should have investigated himself.

Trump’s latest outburst against Mueller, delivered in a series of tweets, came as Mueller prepares to answer lawmakers’ questions on the findings of the Russia investigation. Committee Republicans are likely to echo the president’s longstanding attacks against the special counsel while resurrecting a number of Deep State conspiracy theories designed to discredit the special counsel’s two-and-a-half-year probe.

PLEASE—BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things it doesn’t like—which is most things that are true.

We’ll say it loud and clear: At Mother Jones, no one gets to tell us what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please do your part and help us reach our $150,000 membership goal by May 31.

payment methods

PLEASE—BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things it doesn’t like—which is most things that are true.

We’ll say it loud and clear: At Mother Jones, no one gets to tell us what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please do your part and help us reach our $150,000 membership goal by May 31.

payment methods

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate