Senate Democrats have raised questions about whether the men met at an April 2016 foreign policy event at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington.
While there's no doubt that when Trump first announced his candidacy, and many people still thought it was a publicity stunt, he had more positive press coverage, we still think 98 percent is too high a claim.
Trump told Holt that the entire investigation "should have been over with a long time ago".
The two men worked closely together in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks when Mueller was Federal Bureau of Investigation director and Comey was a high-ranking Justice Department official in the George W. Bush administration.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., told reporters Tuesday he had confidence in Mueller, and dismissed reports that Trump might fire Mueller as "rumors".
Rosenstein's comments come just a few hours after one of Trump's longtime friends told "PBS NewsHour" the president was thinking about firing Mueller.
Under Department of Justice rules, it is actually up to the deputy attorney general to make that call, though the president could bypass that protocol. She said such a move would "destroy any shred of trust in the president's judgment that remains over here".
Gingrich said that he "began to change" his opinion when former FBI Director James Comey made an "arrogant statement" last week during his testimony that he "felt he had the right to leak" information "specifically in order to get a special counsel".
"Can you be fired without cause?", Manchin asked.
Rosenstein said "no, I have not", when asked by Sen.
The conservative commentator Ann Coulter offered a similar message, tweeting: "Now that we know Trump is not under investigation, Sessions should take it back and fire Mueller".
Rosenstein said "I think the answer is no" but said it would depend on the circumstances.
On Twitter, Trump decries obstruction probe related to 'phony' Russia story
Nor did he deny he has entered the miniscule ranks of sitting presidents who have become the subject of a criminal investigation. Comey testified in a Senate hearing last week that he believed he was sacked "because of the Russian Federation investigation".
A number of key Republicans have publicly advised Trump to keep Mueller. I do believe it was considered as an option.
"He's got all these weird relationships where he says, "I haven't talked to so-and-so in six months" and then you find out he talked to so-and-so that day", Scarborough said about Trump.
Rosenstein said Trump has not discussed the special counsel with him.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions says he recused himself from the investigation into Trump campaign ties to Russian Federation because he was involved in the campaign.
If questions arise about what matters Sessions should stay away from, he said, a career official in Rosenstein's office is consulted.
Deputy acting attorney general Rod Rosenstein, who oversees the Justice Department's investigation into Russian Federation because attorney general has recused himself, has the power to fire Mueller.
Trump refused to respond to a reporter asking four times Tuesday whether he will fire Mueller, potentially trying to create some suspense.
They say Mr Trump did not collude with Russian Federation and see the investigation as a politically motivated sham that handicaps Mr Trump's ability to execute his agenda, according to one person who advises the White House on how to handle the probe.
He says he is confident that Mueller will have "the full independence he needs" to investigate thoroughly.
Ruddy was at the White House on Monday (Tuesday NZT) to meet with White House aides, but did not speak with the president, Press Secretary Sean Spicer said.
On CNN to anchor Chris Cuomo: "I think it is a consideration the president has had, because Mueller is illegitimate as special counsel".
A top US Justice Department official today denied rumored plans to sack Robert Mueller, the special counsel running the probe into Russia's election meddling, amid reports President Donald Trump wants him fired.
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