In an interview with The Wall Street Journal published Thursday, President Trump seems to be unaware he is under investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller for possible obstruction of justice.
WSJ: So you’re saying there was no obstruction, if Mueller asks you to come in and talk about it, would you—
(CROSSTALK)
Mr. Trump: Of course there was no obstruction—excuse me. Of course there was no obstruction. But there was no crime. So now they’re saying, could there be—now, I haven’t even heard that they’re looking at obstruct—I don’t know that they’re looking at obstruction.
But how can you—I’m sorry, this is the most open dialogue ever, I’ve given everything, number one. That’s not obstruction.
If this is the case, it would align with a CNN report also out Thursday saying the president's friends are advising him against interviewing with Mueller, saying he does not understand the full extent of the trouble he could be facing.
The source is concerned that no one around Trump is telling him the truth about the realities of this investigation, which has spread beyond inquiries into collusion with Russia to questions about whether the firing of Comey was obstruction of justice.
A friend of Trump's said the question of whether he should directly speak with Mueller's team is a "continual debate. He wants to testify. This is obviously a gigantic tactical issue."
The President, he says, is too eager. "He says 'Just let me at it', and that's the problem."
Transcript of Donald Trump Interview With The Wall Street Journal (WSJ)