Senate Republicans on Monday dismissed the need for legislation to protect Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE, downplaying the chances that President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Trump dismisses climate change role in fires, says Newsom needs to manage forest better Jimmy Kimmel hits Trump for rallies while hosting Emmy Awards MORE will fire him, despite Trump's recent attacks on the special counsel.

"I don't think that's going to happen, so I just think it's not necessary and obviously legislation requires a presidential signature and I don't see ... the necessity of picking that fight right now," said Sen. John Cornyn John CornynCalls grow for Biden to expand election map in final sprint Bipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death Chamber of Commerce endorses McSally for reelection MORE (Texas), the No. 2 Senate Republican, when asked about legislation limiting Trump's ability to fire Mueller.

He added that he believes Trump's public criticism of Mueller is "unhelpful" and agrees with his colleagues who have said firing the special counsel "would be a mistake and produce all sorts of unintended consequences."

Cornyn declined to say what the potential consequences would be.

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The latest round of speculation about Mueller's future comes after Trump teed off over the weekend against the probe into Russia's election meddling and potential ties between the Trump campaign and Moscow, saying the probe is made up of "hardened Democrats."

"A total WITCH HUNT with massive conflicts of interest!" Trump tweeted on Monday.

The White House has stressed that there are no plans to fire Mueller, though The New York Times reported earlier this year that Trump ordered his staff to fire Mueller last year but ultimately backed down when his White House counsel threatened to resign.

And while this weekend's tweets sparked a new rush from lawmakers to defend Mueller, GOP senators also appeared deeply skeptical on Monday that legislation is needed or that Trump would actually fire the special prosecutor, who is widely respected in Washington.

"My conversations with the White House have led him me to believe legislation is not necessary at this point because I do not believe the president would take such a foolish action," Sen. Orrin Hatch Orrin Grant HatchBottom line Bottom line Senate GOP divided over whether they'd fill Supreme Court vacancy MORE (R-Utah) said in a statement.

He added separately to reporters that while the president's attacks against Mueller are "a little uncomfortable" he doesn't ultimately think Trump will "dump him."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellOcasio-Cortez to voters: Tell McConnell 'he is playing with fire' with Ginsburg's seat McConnell locks down key GOP votes in Supreme Court fight Video shows NYC subway station renamed after Ruth Bader Ginsburg MORE (R-Ky.) hasn't weighed in on the current round of Mueller criticism but downplayed the need to pass legislation earlier this year, saying there was "no effort underway to undermine or remove him."

"I don't see the need to bring up legislation to protect someone who appears to need no protection," he said.

Senators have introduced two bills to limit Trump's ability to fire Mueller, but those proposals have stalled for months in the Judiciary Committee.