Trump Basically Just Admitted Appointing Matt Whitaker Was All About the Mueller Investigation

Folks, I’ll be honest with you: I’m starting to think that President Donald Trump is not only a viciously corrupt abscess on the underbelly of American politics, but that he’s incredibly stupid to boot. I mean, why else would he essentially admit that the only reason he picked (laughably unqualified) Matt Whitaker to replace Jeff Sessions as acting Attorney General was because he wanted Whitaker to interfere in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s ongoing probe into Russian interference during the 2016 presidential election?

I mean, yeah, we all were pretty damn sure that’s why he named Whitaker—a snake oil salesman who hawked products like special toilets for people with big dongs—to the role in the first place. But while it’s one thing for us to think it, it’s something entirely different to hear the president say it out loud himself.

That, however, is exactly what Trump did during his Wednesday interview with the Daily Caller.

During a wide-ranging interview with the outlet that employs Benny Johnson, Trump was asked about whether he had anyone in mind to permanently replace Sessions at the Justice Department. Rather than answer the question, though, Trump took the opportunity to riff on why the Mueller investigation is very bad and how he is EXTREMELY INNOCENT.

Let’s go to the transcript!

THE DAILY CALLER: Sure. Could you tell us where your thinking is currently on the attorney general position? I know you’re happy with Matthew Whitaker, do you have any names? Chris Christie —

POTUS: Matthew Whitaker is a very respected man. He’s — and he’s, very importantly, he’s respected within DOJ. I heard he got a very good decision, I haven’t seen it. Kellyanne, did I hear that?

WHITE HOUSE ADVISER KELLYANNE CONWAY: 20 pages.

POTUS: A 20-page?

THE DAILY CALLER: It just came out right before this, sir.

POTUS: Well, I heard it was a very strong opinion. Uh, which is good. But [Whitaker] is just somebody that’s very respected.

I knew him only as he pertained, you know, as he was with Jeff Sessions. And, you know, look, as far as I’m concerned this is an investigation that should have never been brought. It should have never been had.

It’s something that should have never been brought. It’s an illegal investigation. And you know, it’s very interesting because when you talk about not Senate confirmed, well, Mueller’s not Senate confirmed.

THE DAILY CALLER: Right.

POTUS: He’s heading this whole big thing, he’s not Senate confirmed.

So anyway, I have a lot of respect for Matt Whitaker, based primarily on reputation. And I think he’s really — I think a lot of people are starting to come out very much in favor of him during this period of time.

THE DAILY CALLER: What about who will eventually replace him, sir?

POTUS: Well, I’m looking at a lot of people. I have been called by so many people wanting that job. We have some great people. In the meantime, I think Matt’s going to do a fantastic job.

As a reminder, this is essentially the same thing Trump did nearly a year ago when he admitted to NBC’s Lester Holt that he’d fired James Comey to impede an FBI investigation into former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. (Trump later tried to walk back his comments with a ridiculous lie that NBC had “fudged” the interview tapes.)

Whether Trump’s second inadvertent mea culpa will actually be held against him if and when he’s ever forced to answer for his long, long list of alleged wrongdoings remains to be seen. In the meantime, though, take solace in the fact that the President of the United States is not just very stupid; he’s very predictable, too.