Robert Mueller. Alex Wong/Getty Images

President Donald Trump may fire Robert Mueller, the former FBI director who is now in charge of the Trump-Russia investigation.

Some of Trump's conservative allies appear to be turning on Mueller after having first praised his appointment in May.

Mueller's firing would bolster those accusing Trump of trying to influence the Russia investigation.

President Donald Trump may consider firing Robert Mueller, the special counsel overseeing the Russia investigation.

"He's weighing that option," said Chris Ruddy, the CEO of Newsmax and a friend of Trump's, on "PBS NewsHour" on Monday evening. "I personally think it would be a very significant mistake — even though I don't think there's a justification ... for a special counsel in this case."

Ruddy was seen leaving the West Wing on Monday, but it was not immediately clear whether the subject of Mueller came up during his visit.

In the interview with PBS, Ruddy called out what he described as "conflicts" surrounding Mueller's law firm, WilmerHale, which has represented Trump's former campaign manager and members of the Trump family. Ruddy also said Trump had interviewed Mueller for the role of FBI director before Mueller was named special counsel in charge of the Russia investigation. Mueller previously served as FBI director from 2001 to 2013.

The White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, said in an email to Business Insider on Monday night: "Mr. Ruddy never spoke to the President regarding this issue. With respect to this subject, only the President or his attorneys are authorized to comment."

President Donald Trump at the White House on May 2. Mark Wilson/Getty Images

In the past 36 hours, people in Trump's orbit have floated conflicting narratives on the matter. A lawyer for Trump said on ABC News on Sunday that he was "not going to speculate" about whether Trump may fire Mueller. But Trump's conservative allies have begun to turn on the special counsel, despite initially praising his appointment.

Trump's allies now say the Mueller-led investigation into whether Trump’s campaign colluded with Russian officials to meddle in the 2016 election will be tainted and biased, Business Insider's Allan Smith reported earlier Monday, in part because of former FBI Director James Comey's Senate testimony last week.

Trump with James Comey. Getty Images

At his hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday, Comey said he gave a friend, a Columbia law professor, permission to share with news outlets the content of memos Comey wrote documenting private meetings he had with Trump.

Comey testified that he thought the revelations in his memos — including his concerns that Trump sought to influence the FBI's Russia investigation — would prompt the appointment of a special counsel.

While Trump as president would be within his right to order the Justice Department to fire Mueller, that move would surely be viewed as problematic for a president already plagued by suggestions he overstepped his boundaries in his interactions with Comey.

Rep. Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, attempted to knock down any suggestion of Trump firing Mueller.

"If President fired Bob Mueller, Congress would immediately re-establish independent counsel and appoint Bob Mueller," Schiff said. "Don't waste our time." It is unclear, however, exactly how the Republican-led Congress would react to Mueller's firing.

Richard Painter, who served as top White House ethics lawyer under George W. Bush, offered an unvarnished take on the rumblings Monday night.

"Rumors going around that POTUS wants to fire Mueller," he said. "That had better be fake news or this presidency will be over very soon."