Trump does not intend to dismiss Rosenstein

washington - US President Donald Trump does not intend to dismiss his Deputy Minister Rod Rosenstein (Justice). 'No, I do not do it,' Trump said to reporters on Monday when they asked if he was still planning to send the number two to the justice department home.

Rosenstein met with Trump on Monday during a trip in the Air Force One to Florida. There was widespread speculation about the dismissal of the vice minister after a message in The New York Times two weeks ago. It said that Rosenstein had proposed last year secretly to make recordings of Trump to show that it is unsuitable for the presidential office. Trump voiced a lot of criticism of him via Twitter. The junior minister later denied having said it.

Trump said on Monday that he has 'a good relationship' with Rosenstein. 'I did not know Rod before, but I got to know him and I can get along very well with him,' he said.

Within the White House, doubts arose whether it would be beneficial to let Rosenstein leave. That would mean more unrest in the run-up to the important Congressional elections in November.

If Rosenstein had to clear the field, that would have consequences for the investigation into possible Russian influence on the American presidential election. The vice minister is responsible for that, because his political boss Jeff Sessions has withdrawn.