Trump jubilant, vengeful as Russia probe ends in win

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump was jubilant Monday – but also looking for revenge – after the Russia collusion report cleared him in a huge boost for his re-election chances next year.

Trump could afford to be magnanimous in victory after spending two years trying to discredit special prosecutor Robert Mueller.

Asked if Mueller had behaved honourably as head of a probe that he’d previously likened repeatedly to a “witch hunt,” Trump answered: “Yes, he did.”

Trump also supported publication of the Mueller report, rather than just the short summary released late Sunday with a declaration that no evidence emerged to support allegations of collusion between the president’s 2016 election campaign and Russia.

The ‘no collusion’ declaration took the wind out of Democrats’ sails, likely ending any immediate threat of impeachment for Trump, despite the many controversies and scandals still tainting his administration.

White House aides did not hide their glee, signalling that Trump is now free to hit the 2020 campaign trail with his message that an angry left conspired to try and bring down a leader too strong to be tackled any other way.

“It’s a great day for America,” Trump’s spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a rare appearance on CNN, a channel the White House regularly savages as ‘fake news.’

Speaking in the spring sunshine outside the West Wing, Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway told journalists she had two words for presidential foes: “Move on.” — AFP