Article content

WASHINGTON — High-profile supporters of Donald Trump have begun attacking the independent investigator looking into the Russia affair, raising the question of whether the president could indeed attempt to fire him.

The sound of sharpening knives echoed everywhere Monday.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Is Trump going to fire Russia investigator Robert Mueller? He's thinking of it, says friend Back to video

Several Trump-supporting media figures called for Robert Mueller to be fired; a Trump friend said the president was actually considering it; a Trump lawyer wouldn’t rule it out; a conservative newspaper suggested Mueller faces a conflict of interest; and a top Trump surrogate accused him of partisan bias.

A Trump friend who was spotted visiting the White House on Monday later told a PBS interviewer that the president was indeed mulling over firing Mueller. Online news mogul Chris Ruddy said: “I think he’s weighing that option… I personally think it would be a very significant mistake.”

Others sounded more enthusiastic about dropping the axe. Newt Gingrich, who is close to Trump, tweeted: “Republicans are delusional if they think the special counsel is going to be fair. Look who he is hiring. Check (political donation) reports. Time to rethink.”