President Trump on Thursday rejected a New York Times story that said he wanted to fire special counsel Robert Mueller late last year, and said he would have fired him already if he wanted.

“If I wanted to fire Robert Mueller in December, as reported by the Failing New York Times, I would have fired him. Just more Fake News from a biased newspaper!”



If I wanted to fire Robert Mueller in December, as reported by the Failing New York Times, I would have fired him. Just more Fake News from a biased newspaper! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 12, 2018



A Tuesday article in the Times reported that in early December Trump told advisers that the investigation by Mueller had to be shut down.

Trump has continuously called Mueller’s investigation into Russian involvement in the 2016 election and possible collusion between the Kremlin and the Trump campaign a “witch hunt.”

It has long been rumored that Trump has considered firing Mueller at multiple points of the investigation, but reports have never been substantiated by the president himself or his Cabinet. The White House has insisted there are no plans to fire Mueller, and meanwhile, many Republicans and Democrats have warned that firing Mueller would force Congress to act to ensure a complete investigation into Russia's election interference.