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As farewells and condolences begin to circulate following the death of Robert Mueller, the former special counsel is receiving no sympathies from the man he led an investigation against, President Donald Trump.

Mueller, who served as special counsel during the investigation into possible Russian government interference in favor of Trump during the 2016 presidential election, died at the age of 81 following a multi-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. He also served as FBI director from Sept. 4, 2001, to Sept. 4, 2013, after being nominated by George W. Bush.

Mueller’s death, first reported by MS Now on March 21, was also seemingly confirmed by President Donald Trump on Saturday afternoon in a Truth Social post, which reads: “Robert Mueller just died. Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

Trump and Mueller’s feud stems from the former FBI director’s involvement in the investigation and his 2019 final report, which concluded that Russia had interfered in the 2016 election to help Trump. However, there was no evidence that anyone associated with the Trump campaign at the time colluded with the Russian government.

According to Trump, the investigations into his first White House campaign and its connections with Moscow are a hoax. The president, along with some other Republican lawmakers, has continued to claim that former President Barack Obama’s staff is responsible for the “Russia collusion hoax.”

Obama spokesman Patrick Rodenbush responded to Trump’s claims, telling the BBC and New York Times in 2025, “Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response.”

“But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction,” he added.

Mueller continued to defend Russia collusion investigation

Before Mueller’s death, he continued to defend his two-year investigation into collusion between Russia and Trump during the 2016 presidential election, writing in a Washington Post op-ed in 2020, “The work of the special counsel’s office – its report, indictments, guilty pleas and convictions – should speak for itself,” he wrote.

Mueller also responded to Trump’s and others’ claims that the investigation was “illegitimate” and the special counsel’s “motives were improper.”

“Russia’s actions were a threat to America’s democracy. It was critical that they be investigated and understood,” Mueller writes. “By late 2016, the FBI had evidence that the Russians had signaled to a Trump campaign adviser that they could assist the campaign through the anonymous release of information damaging to the Democratic candidate.”

In addition to defending the investigation, he also disputed the claims that Roger Stone, a longtime Republican strategist and Trump ally, was a “victim of our office.” Stone was convicted in 2019 of seven felony charges in relation to the 2016 Russia probe, including obstructing a congressional investigation, making false statements and witness tampering. He was sentenced to 40 months in prison but was later granted clemency.

“We made every decision in Stone’s case, as in all our cases, based solely on the facts and the law and in accordance with the rule of law,” Mueller wrote in the op-ed. “The women and men who conducted these investigations and prosecutions acted with the highest integrity. Claims to the contrary are false.”

Mueller diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2021

In a statement obtained by USA TODAY, Mueller’s family said, “With deep sadness, we are sharing the news that Bob passed away last night. His family asks that their privacy be respected.”

Mueller’s death comes nearly five years after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He learned of his diagnosis in the summer of 2021, the New York Times reported, citing a 2025 family statement the outlet obtained, which came just days before he had been called to testify before a congressional committee about the government’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigations. 

According to the Cleveland Clinic, Parkinson’s disease is an age-related degenerative brain condition that causes parts of the brain to deteriorate, causing slowed movements, tremors and balance issues.

“He retired from the practice of law at the end of that year,” the statement said, per the Times. “He taught at his law school alma mater during the fall of both 2021 and 2022, and he retired at the end of 2022. His family asks that his privacy be respected.”

Contributing: Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy & Aysha Bagchi USA TODAY