Seeking to discredit a highly anticipated report on the Russia investigation, President Donald Trump is attacking the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller by falsely claiming it was biased and conflicted.
He suggested in remarks to reporters Wednesday that Mueller's appointment was inappropriately made by the Justice Department and that Mueller arbitrarily decided "out of the blue" to put together the report as part of his two-year probe into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and possible coordination with the Trump campaign. That's not the case.
Trump also falsely asserted the U.S. economy is the greatest ever and overstated the nature of his win in the 2016 race.
A look at the claims and the reality:
RUSSIA INVESTIGATION
TRUMP: "Again I say, a deputy, because of the fact that the attorney general didn't have the courage to do it himself, a deputy that's appointed appoints another man to write a report."
THE FACTS: The attorney general at the time, Jeff Sessions didn't lack courage in the matter; he lacked standing. He recused himself from anything to do with the Trump campaign's interactions with Russia because his work for the campaign placed him in a potential conflict of interest. It then fell to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to decide whether to appoint a special counsel, and he did.
TRUMP: "I know that he's conflicted and I know that his best friend is Comey, who's a bad cop."
THE FACTS: Though James Comey succeeded Mueller as FBI director, and though they served together in the Bush administration, the men are not known to be social friends. There is certainly no evidence, as Trump has repeatedly suggested, that they are "best friends."
TRUMP, on the Mueller report: "It's sort of interesting that a man out of the blue just writes a report."
THE FACTS: Mueller didn't wake up one day "out of the blue" and decide he wanted to write a report. It's mandated under the regulation that spells out the grounds for his appointment and duties as special counsel.
2016 ELECTION
TRUMP: "I got 306 electoral votes against 223. That's a tremendous victory. I got 63 million more — I got 63 million votes. And now somebody just writes a report?"
THE FACTS: He did not have as lopsided a victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton as he suggests.
Trump did indeed win nearly 63 million votes in the 2016 election, but it was fewer than the 65 million for Clinton, who won the popular vote after racking up lopsided victories in big states such as New York and California, according to election data compiled by The Associated Press. Clinton, however, lost the presidency due to Trump's winning margin in the Electoral College, which came after he narrowly won less populous Midwestern states, including Michigan and Wisconsin.
As is typical, Trump also misstates the Electoral College vote. The official count was 304 to 227, according to an AP tally of the electoral votes in every state.
ECONOMY
TRUMP: "I want to see the report. And you know who will want to see it? The tens of millions of people that love the fact that we have the greatest economy we've ever had."
THE FACTS: The president is vastly exaggerating what has been a mild improvement in growth and hiring. The economy is healthy but not nearly one of the greatest in U.S. history.
The economy expanded at an annual rate of 2.9 percent last year, a solid pace. But it was just the fastest in four years. In the late 1990s, growth topped 4 percent for four straight years, a level it has not yet reached under Trump. And growth even reached 7.2 percent in 1984.
Independent economists widely expect slower growth this year as the effects of the Trump administration's tax cuts fade, trade tensions and slower global growth hold back exports, and higher interest rates make it more expensive to borrow to buy cars and homes.
Associated Press writers Cal Woodward, Christopher Rugaber and Jill Colvin contributed to this report.
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SUPREME COURT-TRUMP-CAPITOL RIOT — AP Explains the latest election subversion case before the Supreme Court: Whether Donald Trump is immune from prosecution in a case charging him with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Includes an AP reporter debrief from last week's hearing on whether federal prosecutors went too far in bringing obstruction charges against hundreds of participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Newsroom Ready and Consumer Ready edits sent on April 16.
ELECTION 2024-US TERRITORIES — What to know about living in U.S. territories ahead of the 2024 election. Newsroom Ready and Consumer Ready edits.
7 a.m. — Live US Network Pool Cameras and Live AP Cameras outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington where justices are hearing arguments on presidential immunity. Live cameras on protesters amid supporters outside, along with live reaction from lawyers. Audio livestream also booked.
7 a.m. — Live AP Camera coverage outside of Trump Tower in New York is planned.
8:30 a.m. — Live NY Trump Pool coverage outside of the courthouse in New York is planned.
ELECTION 2024-PENNSYLVANIA-HALEY — When Nikki Haley suspended her presidential campaign, she refused to endorse Donald Trump as the last remaining major candidate for the 2024 Republican nomination — and so did some of her supporters in Pennsylvania. SENT: 480 words, photo.
BIDEN-FUNDRAISER — President Joe Biden is scheduled to attend a campaign fundraiser in Irvington, New York, on Thursday night. Hosts include Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. AP does not expect this event to be open to the media, but it will be traveling with the president and it will provide video edits and Live coverage if there is breaking news.
ELECTION 2024-DECISION NOTES-PUERTO RICO — Puerto Rico will hold a Democratic presidential primary Sunday, the only opportunity for Democrats on the island to officially weigh in on the race for the White House. Sent April 24: 970 words, photos.
SUPREME COURT-TRUMP-CAPITOL RIOT — Supreme Court justices seem to agree on a basic truth about the American system of government: No one is above the law, not even the president. But former President Donald Trump and his legal team are putting that truth to the test when the high court takes up Trump’s bid to avoid prosecution over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden. SENT: 780 words, photo. UPCOMING: 1,100 words after 10 a.m. arguments. With TRUMP-CAPITOL RIOT-LISTENERS’ GUIDE — What to listen for during Supreme Court arguments on Trump and presidential immunity. Sent April 24.
TRUMP-HUSH MONEY — A judge is weighing whether to hold Donald Trump in contempt of court for what prosecutors say have been repeated violations of the gag order in his hush money criminal trial. Jurors are also expected to hear more testimony from David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, about the tabloid’s involvement in a scheme to benefit Trump. SENT: 650 words, photos. UPCOMING: 990 words after trial resumes at 9:30 a.m.
BIDEN — President Biden heads to upstate New York to tout his administration’s efforts to promote computer chip manufacturing in the U.S. SENT: 760 words, photos. UPCOMING: Speech at 2 p.m. Video edits and Live planned.
FAKE ELECTORS-INDICTMENT-ARIZONA — An Arizona grand jury has indicted former President Donald Trump ’s chief of staff Mark Meadows, lawyer Rudy Giuliani and 16 others for their efforts to use so-called fake electors to try to overturn Trump’s loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. SENT: 1,200 words, photos, audio. With ELECTION 2020-MICHIGAN-FAKE ELECTORS — Investigator said Trump, allies were uncharged co-conspirators in plot to overturn Michigan election.
ELECTION 2024-BIDEN-TIKTOK — President Joe Biden’s signing of legislation that could ban TikTok in the U.S. runs counter to his campaign’s embrace of the platform and outreach to influencers. The president is also facing criticism from some avid users of the app. SENT: 1,300 words, photos.
ELECTION-2024-BIDEN-UNION — President Joe Biden picked up the endorsement of North America’s Building Trades Unions where the president and his allies set out to dismantle Republican Donald Trump’s reputation as a successful real estate developer. SENT: 380 words, photos, audio.
Sun., April 28 — Puerto Rico Democratic presidential primary.
May 7 — Indiana presidential primary.
May 14 — Maryland presidential primary, Nebraska presidential primary and West Virginia presidential primary.
May 21 — California 20th Congressional District special election, Kentucky presidential primary, Oregon presidential primary.
May 23 — Idaho Democratic Caucuses.
For coverage and planning questions, the Nerve Center can be reached at +1 800 845 8450 (ext. 1600). For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport@ap.org or call +1 844 777 2006.
President Joe Biden speaks before signing a $95 billion Ukraine aid package that also includes support for Israel, Taiwan, and other allies, in the State Dining Room of the White House, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
