‘Fake news’: Trump responds to bombshell report that he had ordered Mueller fired

WASHINGTON— U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday denied that he had ordered the firing of Robert Mueller, the special counsel in the Russia probe, but then backed off. The president called reports of the June incident “fake news.”

The New York Times reported Thursday evening that Trump ordered Donald F. McGahn II, his top White House lawyer, to dismiss Mueller just weeks after Mueller took over the Russia investigation. McGahn refused to ask the Justice Department to fire Mueller, saying he would quit instead, and the president relented.

Trump responded to the Times report during a trip to Davos, Switzerland, where he is attending the World Economic Forum, a gathering of world leaders and global business executives.

Upon arrival at the Congress Center in Davos, Trump was greeted by a scrum of the forum’s participants snapping cellphone photos and by a large group of reporters asking why he had ordered Mueller’s firing.

“Fake news, folks,” Trump replied. “Fake news.

“A typical New York Times fake story.”

The Times report was based on four people who were told of the matter. On Thursday, Ty Cobb, who manages the White House relationship with Mueller’s office, declined to comment.

The June incident could emerge as an important part of Mueller’s probe, part of which is looking into whether Trump or anyone in the White House or associated with his campaign obstructed justice by trying to impede investigators looking into the possibility of campaign-related collusion with Russia.

Trump’s order to fire Mueller came in the month after the president did fire FBI Director James B. Comey, later citing the Russia probe as the reason for his decision.