President Trump says Mueller acted honorably, despite months of criticism

John Fritze and Michael Collins
Updated

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said Monday that special counsel Robert Mueller acted honorably in his investigation into Russian election interference, a reversal from months of criticism that the probe was little more than a "witch hunt."

Speaking at the White House alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump was asked by a reporter whether Mueller "acted honorably." A summary of Mueller's report released Sunday showed that Trump did not work with the Russians to help sway the outcome of the 2016 election.

"Yes," Trump said in response. "He did."

Speaking later in the Oval Office, Trump said that the probe was "100 percent the way it should’ve been." Trump went on to repeat an argument he made on Sunday, that the country can "never let this happen" to another president.

“It was a false narrative," Trump said." "It was a terrible thing."

The acknowledgement from Trump that Mueller acted appropriately marked a departure from Trump's past remarks about the former FBI director. Trump has repeatedly described Mueller during the course of the investigation in harsh terms.

"Bob Mueller and his gang of Democrat thugs have done to destroy people," he posted on Twitter in November.

President Donald Trump turns to depart after speaking with the media after stepping off Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, March 24, 2019, in Washington. The Justice Department said Sunday that special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation did not find evidence that President Donald Trump's campaign "conspired or coordinated" with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: President Trump says Mueller acted honorably, despite months of criticism