Donald Trump has said many different things about Robert Mueller over time, but his recurring themes were that the Russia probe was a “witch hunt,” that Mueller was “totally conflicted,” and that Mueller “should have never been chosen.”

What he said

  • When Mueller was appointed special counsel, Trump reportedly reacted in private with lines like, “This is the end of my Presidency” and “I’m f-cked.”
  • Publicly, Trump later called the investigation a “witch hunt” and a “rigged witch hunt.”
  • In 2019, after Mueller spoke publicly, Trump said Mueller “should have never been chosen” and described him as a “true never Trumper.”
  • He also called Mueller “totally conflicted” and claimed there was “no obstruction” and “no collusion.”

Broader pattern

Trump’s comments shifted between denial, attack, and dismissal. At different moments, he praised the absence of a conspiracy finding while also attacking Mueller personally and framing the probe as politically motivated.

Recent context

More recently, reports on March 20, 2026 say Trump reacted harshly to Mueller’s death on Truth Social, writing that he was glad Mueller was dead and that Mueller “can no longer hurt innocent people.”

TL;DR

Trump repeatedly portrayed Robert Mueller as biased and the Russia investigation as a hoax, while also venting privately that Mueller’s appointment was devastating for him.