PoliticoDonald Trump butters up new Attorney General Bill Barr amid signs Robert Mueller is concluding report on Russia investigation
- The president’s efforts to play nice with the new attorney general stand in contrast to his ever-growing list of grievances, which piled up on Twitter again this week
This story is published in a content partnership with POLITICO. It was originally reported by Andrew Restuccia and Darren Samuelsohn on politico.com on February 20, 2019.
Facing the possible completion of a special counsel investigation that could upend his presidency, Donald Trump is lashing out at everything and everybody – except his new attorney general, Bill Barr.
Trump, who publicly filleted Jeff Sessions for more than a year, has adopted a noticeably friendly tone toward Barr, even as the newly sworn-in attorney general prepares to face the biggest test of his career: the culmination of Robert Mueller’s Russia probe. The approach comes as Trump’s inner circle is signalling that they believe the special counsel has essentially completed his work.
“He’s a tremendous man and tremendous person who really respects this country and respects the justice system. So that’ll be totally up to him,” Trump said in the Oval Office Wednesday when asked about a new CNN report that Barr is preparing to announce the completion of Mueller’s work as soon as next week.
Last week, at the close of meandering remarks in the Rose Garden, Trump similarly praised Barr.
“I want to wish our attorney general great luck and speed – and enjoy your life,” the president declared.