Outrage as Trump Celebrates Death of Special Counsel Robert Mueller

The news hit hard over the weekend: Robert Mueller, the former FBI director and special counsel who led that massive investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible ties to Donald Trump’s campaign, passed away on Friday at the age of 81.

His family confirmed it quietly, asking for privacy—no cause was shared publicly, though he’d been dealing with Parkinson’s for a while. Mueller was a real figure from an older era of public service: a Marine who fought in Vietnam, earned a Bronze Star and Purple Heart, then spent decades as a prosecutor and led the FBI through the post-9/11 years under both Bush and Obama.

In 2017, he was appointed special counsel, and that probe dragged on for nearly two years, resulting in dozens of indictments and guilty pleas from people around Trump—but it never charged the president himself.

Trump, though, never let it go. When the news broke, he jumped on Truth Social almost immediately:

“Robert Mueller just died. Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!”

That post set off a firestorm. People from across the political spectrum called it out as cruel and classless. Former RNC chair Michael Steele didn’t hold back, posting that Trump was a “vile disgusting man,” petty, hypocritical, and lacking any moral core. Lincoln Project co-founder Rick Wilson called Mueller a hero and predicted that when Trump’s time comes, people will celebrate in the streets because of the damage he did to the presidency. Others, like Principles First founder Heath Mayo, just said, “What a sick human being.”

Democrats piled on too. Congressman Dan Goldman pointed out the irony—Mueller exposed efforts to mess with the 2016 election, yet Trump was gloating over his grave. Adam Schiff talked about basic indecency and unfitness for office. Alex Vindman, the retired Army officer, highlighted the contrast: a draft-dodger (referring to Trump’s Vietnam deferments) trashing a decorated combat vet and lifelong public servant.

Some brought up hypocrisy—how some on the right went after anyone who spoke ill of conservative figures after their deaths, but now this gets defended. Trump supporters, like far-right activist Laura Loomer, pushed back, saying he was just voicing what a lot of people feel.

It’s not the first time Trump has ignored the old rule about not speaking ill of the dead. He did the same with John McCain, downplaying official tributes and keeping up the attacks even after. Or when he mocked Paul Pelosi after the hammer attack, or twisted other tragedies to fit his narrative.

Chuck Schumer summed it up bluntly: the cruelty is the point—it’s a distraction from other stuff like gas prices or ongoing controversies. Meanwhile, Mueller’s legacy as a straight-arrow Marine and prosecutor stands in pretty stark contrast.

Sad way for things to end, but it sure stirred up the old divisions one more time. May he rest in peace.