According to a report in the New York Times, President Donald Trump had already planned to fire Robert Mueller after he learned the special counsel is friends with fired FBI Director James Comey.
The report stated that Trump was angered when he learned of the relationship and made plans to dump Mueller before being convinced it would be a disastrous move.
Sources say Trump that was telling staff, visitors and advisers last week that he felt Mueller had become part of a "witch hunt' against him and wanted him gone.
Trump reportedly became aware of the longtime relationship between Mueller and Comey after being alerted to reports on Breitbart News and other conservative media outlets.
White House staffers still believe Trump is volatile enough that they can't be sure that he won’t change his mind if he grows upset with how the investigation is conducted
Tuesday night, Deputy White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders maintained the president has the right to fire Mueller, but doesn’t plan on it.
The report goes on to state that while Trump is suspicious of Mueller and that he is still furious with Attorney General Sessions for recusing himself from overseeing the Russia probe.