The only reason Trump had interview with NYTimes reporter was to put Mueller on notice.

[kentuck]

If you don't treat me fairly, in other words, if you don't clear me of any wrongdoing, then you should know that I have absolute control over the Justice Dept and you will be fired.

He was using the NYTimes reporter as a conduit to get that message to Mueller.

He always looks out for number one.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. And Mueller, like the honey badger, don't care.

[cilla4progress]

2. Good

Call

[FreepFryer]

3. Trump threatens his KFC before he eats it - it's who he is. He will fail. Justice will prevail. (nt)

[onecaliberal]

4. Mueller has zero fucks to give what dump thinks.

[Martin Eden]

5. Mueller isn't worried for himself

He will do just fine personally if Trump fires him.

He's more concerned about the rule of law and the integrity of our elections.

[pnwmom]

6. Maybe another reason, too.

He's putting on an act. He's acting like he's unconcerned and he won't fire with Mueller. And he won't.

He'll fire Rosenstein instead and put someone in place who will supervise Mueller by tying his hands behind his back and putting a gag over his mouth.

[KPN]

7. Yup.

[Mr. Ected]

8. I think his motivations were different but gave him a forum to spew his threats and propaganda

I think the NY Times was just about to run the bombshell article about Papadopoulos' drunken spilling of the beans to an Australian intelligence officer as the springboard for the Trump Russia investigation. Before they ran the story, they contacted the White House for comment. Trump was advised and then made certain that he would chase down the Times and spill. His motivation was to diffuse the impact of the extremely-prejudicial report and get in front of the story. And guess what? It kind of worked. We were all riveted to our computers and televisions on Thursday night awaiting this HUGE story to hit...and then...it didn't. We wondered why. Most likely because the Trump interview suddenly took on its own life and there was no time to unveil the bombshell. I think they held fast for 24 hours and then pushed it out.

As time goes on, we'll understand the relevance of this news story. It boogers up the GOP's attempt to sully the dossier and its author and purchaser(s), as they maintain it was the launch point for the investigation. In truth, it was not. Papadopoulos' pickled gasbaggery was. This story shoots an arrow through the heart of the GOP defense and counterargument.

Granted, Trump did use this stage to vaguely threaten Mueller, but that's just Trump being Trump. The man is running scared but putting on a big show to save his ample ass.

Won't work.

[brush]

9. Maybe in a moment of lucidiy he thought that's what he was doing, but in the other moments...

of the interview he revealed how few of those he has.

[gulliver]

10. Hopefully it means Trump got some bad news in this last meeting...

...with Trump's lawyers. Nunes is also apparently putting together a preemptive strike or two against Mueller. Whatever Mueller's got, it's not making Republicans happy.