Trump turns Russia frustration to Rosenstein
June Trump
The move led to the appointment of a special counsel in May 2017  a development that continues to infuriate the President. While  Trump  often directed that anger at Sessions  by June  he  turned  his  ire to Mueller and wanted the special counsel fired  a source confirmed to CNN after it was first reported in The New York Times. White House counsel Don McGahn refused to order the Justice Department to fire Mueller  the source said  because he disagreed with the President's reasoning.
 Trump  appeared in good spirits Friday morning as  he  prepared to deliver remarks in Davos  a source who spent time with  Trump  behind the scenes said. There was no sign that  he  was perturbed by reports about  his  move to fire Mueller  this person said  and  Trump  didn't bring up the topic.
But ever since a special counsel was named  the President's frustrations have continued to simmer.  Trump  has come to view Rosenstein as one-in-the-same as Mueller -- another government official who is out to get the President  one source said.
Sources described  Trump 's frustration with Rosenstein as largely bluster.
In explaining his urge to fire Mueller  The Times  citing two people  said the President said there was a conflict of interest based on Mueller's dispute with one of his golf clubs over fees  the fact that Mueller worked at  the same law firm that was representing Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner   and that Mueller interviewed for the FBI director position the day before he was named special counsel. A source tells CNN another reason  Trump  wanted to fire Mueller was  his  perception that Mueller was close friends with Comey. The two men are professional acquaintances.
As for McGahn   he  was already prone to becoming frustrated with the President and had threatened to quit over different issues  including  Trump 's choice of lawyers to defend the President and White House  according to a source familiar with the situation. But the pressure in June to fire Mueller caused McGahn to tell others  he  would resign  and this time  he  packed up some of  his  belongings in boxes  according to two people familiar with the matter.
Before the news broke Thursday  those who have worked closely with McGahn in recent weeks said they believe  he 's committed to staying at the White House. But  his  fate could depend on how Trump reacts upon  his  return to Washington.
The move led to the appointment of a special counsel in May 2017  a development that continues to infuriate the President. While  Trump  often directed that anger at Sessions  by June  he  turned  his  ire to Mueller and wanted the special counsel fired  a source confirmed to CNN after it was first reported in The New York Times. White House counsel Don McGahn refused to order the Justice Department to fire Mueller  the source said  because he disagreed with the President's reasoning.
 Trump  appeared in good spirits Friday morning as  he  prepared to deliver remarks in Davos  a source who spent time with  Trump  behind the scenes said. There was no sign that  he  was perturbed by reports about  his  move to fire Mueller  this person said  and  Trump  didn't bring up the topic.
But ever since a special counsel was named  the President's frustrations have continued to simmer.  Trump  has come to view Rosenstein as one-in-the-same as Mueller -- another government official who is out to get the President  one source said.
Sources described  Trump 's frustration with Rosenstein as largely bluster.
In explaining his urge to fire Mueller  The Times  citing two people  said the President said there was a conflict of interest based on Mueller's dispute with one of his golf clubs over fees  the fact that Mueller worked at  the same law firm that was representing Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner   and that Mueller interviewed for the FBI director position the day before he was named special counsel. A source tells CNN another reason  Trump  wanted to fire Mueller was  his  perception that Mueller was close friends with Comey. The two men are professional acquaintances.
As for McGahn   he  was already prone to becoming frustrated with the President and had threatened to quit over different issues  including  Trump 's choice of lawyers to defend the President and White House  according to a source familiar with the situation. But the pressure in June to fire Mueller caused McGahn to tell others  he  would resign  and this time  he  packed up some of  his  belongings in boxes  according to two people familiar with the matter.
Before the news broke Thursday  those who have worked closely with McGahn in recent weeks said they believe  he 's committed to staying at the White House. But  his  fate could depend on how Trump reacts upon  his  return to Washington.