Allies of the President cast doubt on the idea that Mr Trump would take such a drastic step, and officials said Mr Ruddy had not met Mr Trump directly while visiting the White House on Monday.

Trump, angered by reports in Breitbart News and other conservative news media that Mueller was close to James Comey, the FBI director he had fired, repeatedly brought up the political and legal implications of firing someone he viewed as incapable of an impartial investigation.

When Mueller was appointed special counsel last month, Democrats and Republicans praised the decision. "I think he's- he's weighing that option".

Yet that tweet contradicts what Gingrich tweeted just less than a month ago, saying, "Robert Mueller is superb choice to be special counsel".

As certain media friends and allies have floated the trial balloon of President Donald Trump firing special counsel Robert Mueller, a host of pundits and pols have come down strongly against it.

'I personally think it would be a very significant mistake, even though I don't think there's a justification. for a special counsel in this case, ' he added.

Ruddy reportedly was seen leaving the White House today, which the White House denies.

Under current Justice Department regulations, firing Mueller would have to be done by deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein, not the president- though those regulations could theoretically be set aside.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions, whose contacts with Russia's ambassador to the USA during the presidential campaign have sparked questions, is appearing before the Senate intelligence committee as it investigates alleged Russian meddling in the election.

Sessions, a major Trump campaign supporter, disqualified himself on the advice of the department's ethics office after he had failed to disclose meetings he had with top Russians during his confirmation hearings.

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Asked about Trump's own contention that the president fired Comey with the Russian Federation probe in mind, and regardless of any recommendation from anyone else, Sessions said: "I guess I'll just have to let his words speak for themselves".

He says he is confident that Mueller will have "the full independence he needs" to investigate thoroughly.

The public comments from close friends suggest Trump may be testing the waters on a decision that would be among the most controversial he has made since becoming president, recalling the "Saturday Night Massacre" when President Nixon fired special prosecutor Archibald Cox amid the Watergate investigation.

So, of course, they would ignore Ruddy's clarification that he doesn't think Trump would actually fire Mueller. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Susan Collins (R-ME), Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and John McCain (R-AZ), who have either expressed confidence in Mueller, or concern at talk of Trump dismissing him.

On May 17 Mueller - who led the FBI until 2013 - was appointed by the Justice Department to head the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 American election.

Ruddy was at the White House Monday to meet with White House aides, but did not speak with the president, Press Secretary Sean Spicer said. "Mr". Ruddy later confirmed the comment to CNN.

"How dare you smear a man who served this country honorably for decades in both war and peace, winning the Bronze Star and Purple Heart", Scarborough wrote. Mr Trump considers the inquiry a "witch hunt".

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich led one line of attack with a tweet that said "Republicans are delusional if they think the special counsel is going to be fair".

Congressman Adam Schiff, the most senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Congress would not sit still if Mr Trump fired Mr Mueller and tried to appoint his own replacement.