President Donald Trump said Monday that Robert Mueller, head of the two-year probe into alleged collusion with Russia during the 2016 election campaign, acted honorably, but he also threatened retaliation against his foes.
"Yes he did," Trump said after Mueller -- whom he often bitterly criticized during the investigation -- declared there was no evidence of collusion by Trump or his campaign.
Trump, who feels vindicated by the dropping of collusion allegations, said he would favor publication of the wider Mueller report. So far, only a short summary has been released.
"Up to the attorney general. Wouldn't bother me at all," he said at the White House. But Trump blasted the investigation as "a false narrative, it was a terrible thing."
"We can never let this happen to another president again," he said. "Very few people I know could have handled it. We can never, ever let this happen to another president again."
Adding to suggestions that the White House would like to retaliate now that the damaging investigation is over, Trump said "there are people out there who have done very bad things, I would say treasonous things against our country."