Former US President Donald Trump has reacted strongly to the death of Robert Mueller, saying he was “glad” the former special counsel had died.
Donald Trump reacts to the death of Robert Mueller
Mueller, who led the investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election, has died aged 81 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. His death was first reported on March 21 and later acknowledged by Trump in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.
Trump wrote in the post: “Robert Mueller just died. Well, I’m glad he’s dead. He can’t hurt innocent people anymore!” The remark contrasts with the condolences and tributes shared by others following Mueller’s death.
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Mueller had a long career in public service. He served as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2001 to 2013, appointed by George W. Bush. He later became special counsel in 2017, overseeing a two-year investigation into whether Russia meddled in the 2016 election to benefit Trump.
The investigation concluded that Russia did indeed try to influence the election. However, it has not been proven that members of the Trump campaign colluded with the Russian government. Trump has consistently described the investigation as a “hoax” and criticized its findings.
The issue remained politically divisive. Trump and some of his allies have also alleged that officials connected to Barack Obama were behind what they describe as the “Russia collusion hoax.” Obama’s representatives denied the claims.
In earlier comments to the media, Obama spokesman Patrick Rodenbush dismissed such allegations as “ridiculous” and said they were an attempt to divert attention from other issues.
Mueller publicly defended his investigation before his death. In his 2020 opinion, he said the investigation was necessary to understand what he described as a serious threat to American democracy. He claimed that the work done by his team was evidence-based and followed the law.
Mueller also dismissed criticism of cases raised during the investigation, including political strategist Roger Stone, who was convicted of several charges related to the probe before later being pardoned.
Mueller’s family confirmed his death in a statement and asked for privacy. They said he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2021 and retired from legal practice the following year.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition that affects movement and balance and is more common in older people.
