'He is living in his own world': Trump 'confident, even arrogant' as Mueller encircles top aides

Donald Tump is “living in his own world” and refusing to take special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation seriously, the Washington Post reports.

Trump’s lawyers have reportedly assured the president the special counsel’s probe into collusion between his campaign and Russia will wrap up by the year’s end. This week, his lawyers plan to meet with Mueller’s team to ask if the special counsel requires more information or documents before concluding the investigation.

One adviser described Trump as “confident, even arrogant” in his belief that Mueller’s probe will draw to a close soon.

But for all of Trump’s self-assuredness, people familiar with the investigation told the Washington Post the special counsel’s investigation is likely to carry on for at least another year.

“I think it’s possible Mueller’s team could give them an idea of how much longer they anticipate their investigation will last,” former deputy special counsel Peter Zeidenberg said. “I would be shocked if they have a timeline anything similar to what we’ve heard coming from the White House.”

Mark Corallo, a one-time spokesman for Trump’s legal team, likewise said he doesn’t see Mueller’s probe ending in the timeframe the president believes it will. But, he argued the special counsel “understands you can’t have a president who is living this cloud of uncertainty.”

CNN on Monday reported Trump predicts a “letter” of exoneration from Mueller, noting allies fear a “meltdown” if he doesn’t receive it.

"I've known him long enough to know that disappointing him is a problem and they've built up a level of expectations for him that are unrealistic," a friend of Trump told CNN.