Donald Trump is in panic mode after reports that Special Counsel Robert Mueller filed criminal charges Friday in the Russia collusion investigation — at least, that’s how Twitter users saw the situation Sunday morning after Trump unleashed a tweetstorm starting at about 10 a.m. Eastern time, calling on Republicans, in emphatic capitalization with an exclamation point, to “DO SOMETHING!”
Mueller — who is investigating not only whether the Trump 2016 presidential campaign colluded with the Russian government to influence last year’s election, but also any crimes by Trump or his associates that may be related to the possible Russia collusion — filed charges against a person or persons not yet named on Friday, according to several media reports .
While it appears unlikely that Trump himself is named in those criminal charges, experts believe that Mueller’s investigation is closing in on the Oval Office after the investigators grilled former White House insiders Sean Spicer and Reince Priebus earlier this month. With reports claiming that an arrest in the Russia case could come as soon as Monday, speculation has centered on former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort , former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn or even Trump’s own son-in-law Jared Kushner as possible targets to be taken into custody by Mueller’s team.
So is Trump worried? In his outward behavior he appeared unperturbed on Saturday, as Trump played golf for the 76th day of the 282 days since his January 20 inauguration. For the first time during his term, Trump’s golf outing was captured on video, and aired by NBC News. The NBC Trump golfing video from Saturday may be viewed below.
JUST IN: Office of the Special Counsel will serve up an indictment Monday in connection with Russia probe, an official confirms to NBC News
— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 28, 2017
But at least according to dozens of Twitter users, the tweetstorm unleashed by Trump on Sunday morning indicated an inner turmoil over the Russia investigation not reflected in his apparently relaxed golf outing. As author and former Spy Magazine editor Kurt Andersen noted, Trump began his tweeting Sunday as the regular Sunday morning political talk shows aired on the major television networks — discussing the possible criminal indictments by Mueller in the Russia investigation.
As the Sunday shows aired this morning, all focused on Mueller’s indictment(s), Panicky @POTUS ‘ 24 minutes of real-time hysteria: pic.twitter.com/TuB6V8XHq7
— Kurt Andersen (@KBAndersen) October 29, 2017
As seen in the above image of the Sunday tweets from the @RealDonaldTrump account , Trump called on Republicans to “DO SOMETHING!” That is, to investigate his former Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton — almost a full year after the election — for what Trump and other Republicans have called her own “collusion” with Russia. As rumors that Mueller’s investigation was moving toward making a major move last week, Trump as well as Fox News and other conservative media outlets repeatedly claimed that Clinton had somehow colluded with Russia over an otherwise long-forgotten uranium mine sale that has been the subject of conspiracy theories in conservative circles in recent months.
We see the Clinton blaming spiralling upward. Clear sign that the Trump adm. is in crisis/panic mode. https://t.co/eKI24J6oSO via politico…
— Anti-DJ.Trump (@Anti_DJTrump) October 29, 2017
Only one stirred up is Trump & the chicken nuggets who adore him. It wasn’t Clinton screaming “DO SOMETHING” in a panic this morning. LOL!
— Planet of Dinosaurs (@thiswishistaken) October 29, 2017
Twitter users responded with seeming glee to Trump’s tweetstorm , accusing him of “panic” as the Russia investigation appeared to be moving closer to targeting him and his close associates with criminal charges.
Sad to see a supposedly grown man (Trump) acting so weak and panic stricken. What a role model for his children let alone this nation. https://t.co/MuHdJA77p9
— Donald Miller (@dnmilikan) October 29, 2017
we KNOW Trump is raging and freaking and in a panic as well as making life for all round him miserable as he has no clue he is NUTS!
— Peter Whitlock (@TIMELINEREPAIR) October 29, 2017
Trump Is Having a Panic Attack On Twitter, Begs Party To ‘Do Something!’ As Monday’s Arrests Loom – https://t.co/7Rbb0l7ULr
— geri terrana (@firedupreadytog) October 29, 2017
Trump Breaks Down and Lets the Indictment Panic Flow https://t.co/YxjyScJi5q
— Allen Ray Amos (@allen_amos) October 29, 2017
The fact that #Mueller ‘s news may have totally blindsided #trump makes me smile. Just the panic alone is worth it. Turnabout is fair play.
— Ripley in CT (@RipleyInCT) October 29, 2017
Reporter Carl Bernstein, famous for exposing the Richard Nixon Watergate scandal in the early 1970s , called Trump’s attempts to accuse Clinton of “collusion” an attempt to “muddy the waters” around the Russia investigation. Bernstein added that if Trump truly had nothing to hide, as he claims, he would “do everything possible to cooperate with the investigation. But so far, we’ve seen just the opposite.”
This piece of fiction is made up by Trump. It’s his bedtime story. Hysterical panic is a result of guilt.
— Peggy Todd (@redreader5346) October 29, 2017
Trump’s panic tweets this morning bring me so much joy. CANNOT WAIT for what he tweets out in tomorrow’s Twitter tantrum
— Trev (@DivineRight88) October 29, 2017
As of Sunday morning, however, there has been no official confirmation from government of law enforcement authorities that Mueller has filed charges, and no clue as to what those charges would be — or what person might be charged.
[Featured Image by Drew Angerer/Getty Images]
