Trump: No intent to fire Rod Rosenstein; says they have a 'good relationship'

Rosenstein's future has been the subject of speculation in Washington circles.

ByKatherine Faulders and Erica Y King
October 8, 2018, 2:23 PM

Ahead of their departure together to the International Association of Chiefs of Police Convention in Orlando, Fla., President Donald Trump said he and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein have a “good relationship."

Rosenstein's future has been the subject of speculation in Washington circles in the wake of reporting that at a May 2017 meeting between Rosenstein and then-acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, Rosenstein suggested that McCabe or others wear a wire when speaking with the president, according to memos McCabe made of the conversation, sources familiar with them told ABC News. The alleged meeting took place a week after President Donald Trump had fired James Comey as director, the sources said.

Rosenstein has denied the reports saying in a statement that he "never pursued or authorized recording the President and any suggestion that I have ever advocated for the removal of the President is absolutely false."

On Monday, Trump told reporters on the White House South Lawn he looked forward to chatting with Rosenstein aboard Air Force One, saying "no I don't" when asked if he had plans to fire him.

"I look forward to being with him. That will be very nice. We're going to be talking. We'll be talking on the plane," Trump said. I actually have a good relationship other than there's been no collusion, folks, no collusion. But I have a very good relationship."

When asked by ABC News if he is concerned about Rosenstein's loyalty, the president on Monday didn't directly answer but said he's gotten to know him and gets along very well with him.

"Look, I'm traveling with Rod I didn't know Rod before. I've gotten to know him and I get along very well with him," the president said.

NEW: @realDonaldTrump on traveling with DAG Rod Rosenstein today on AF1 to Florida, tells press he has a “ good relationship” w/ Rosenstein & that they will talk on plane.

— Fin Gomez (@finnygo) October 8, 2018

President Trump also implied he had no plan of firing Rosenstein during his press conference a couple weeks ago in New York following the United Nations General Assembly. Trump similarly said he'd prefer to leave him on the job.

Related Topics

ABC News Live

ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

President Trump also implied he had no plan of firing Rosenstein during his press conference a couple weeks ago in New York following the United Nations General Assembly. Trump similarly said he'd prefer to leave him on the job.

","publishedDate":"2018-10-08T18:23:00Z","contributors":[{"name":"Katherine Faulders","url":"https://abcnews.go.com/author/katherine_faulders","role":"","logo":"","logoAlt":""},{"name":"Erica Y King","url":"https://abcnews.go.com/author/erica_y_king","role":"","logo":"","logoAlt":""}],"modifiedDate":"2018-10-08T20:59:57Z","section":"Politics","wordCount":380,"relatedTags":{"heading":"Related Topics","tags":[{"label":"Russia Investigation","href":"/alerts/Russia"}]},"lead":{"ratio":"16x9","disableForMobile":false,"type":"xl","mediaType":"video","alignCaptionToBody":true},"ads":{"Sticky":{"kvps":{"test":true}},"RightRail":{"kvps":{"test":true}},"InlineBox":{},"InlineOutstream":{"disabled":false},"Taboola":{"position":"bottom","pageType":"article","config":{"network":"abcnews-abcnews","mode":"thumbnails-a","container":"taboola-below-article-thumbnails","type":"article","targetType":"mix","placement":"Below Article Thumbnails"}}},"featuredVideo":{"id":"58363382","type":"video","locator":"https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/trump-fire-rod-rosenstein-good-relationship-58363382","shortLocator":"https://abcn.ws/2y7gsqd","issued":"2018-10-08T17:14:13Z","created":"2018-10-08T17:14:13Z","modified":"2018-10-08T17:48:39Z","date":"2018-10-08T17:14:13Z","keywords":["Donald Trump","Andrew McCabe","James Comey","Rod Rosenstein","chief of police","U.S. Department of Justice","Video","58363382"],"section":"Politics","title":"Trump says he won't fire Rod Rosenstein; says they have a 'good relationship'","headline":"Trump says he won't fire Rod Rosenstein; says they have a 'good relationship'","shortHeadline":"Trump says he won't fire Rod Rosenstein; says they have a 'good relationship'","linkHeadline":"Trump says he won't fire Rod Rosenstein; says they have a 'good relationship'","description":"Rosenstein's future has been the subject of speculation in Washington circles.","leadInText":"Rosenstein's future has been the subject of speculation in Washington circles.","contents":{"image":{"id":"58363383","created":"2018-10-08T17:01:45Z","modified":"2018-10-08T17:02:17Z","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"name":"raw","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Politics/181008_vod_orig_trump_rosenstein_relationship_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg"},{"name":"12x5","ratio":"12x5","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Politics/181008_vod_orig_trump_rosenstein_relationship_hpMain_12x5_992.jpg"},{"name":"16x9","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Politics/181008_vod_orig_trump_rosenstein_relationship_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg"},{"name":"1x1","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Politics/181008_vod_orig_trump_rosenstein_relationship_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg"},{"name":"4x3","ratio":"4x3","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Politics/181008_vod_orig_trump_rosenstein_relationship_hpMain_4x3_992.jpg"},{"name":"4x5","ratio":"4x5","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Politics/181008_vod_orig_trump_rosenstein_relationship_hpMain_4x5_992.jpg"}],"description":"Rosenstein's future has been the subject of speculation in Washington circles."},"playlist":[{"id":"58363382","type":"video","streams":{"m3u8":{"16x9":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2018/10/181008_vod_orig_trump_rosenstein_relationship2_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"}}},{"id":"57982575","type":"video","streams":{"m3u8":{"16x9":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2018/09/180921_gma_thomas_0706_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"}}},{"id":"57891470","type":"video","streams":{"m3u8":{"16x9":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2018/09/180917_wnt_trump_declassifies_texts_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"}}}]},"streams":{"m3u8":{"16x9":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2018/10/181008_vod_orig_trump_rosenstein_relationship2_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"}},"transcript":{"webVtt":"https://abcnews.go.com/video/caption?id=58363382"},"alertTag":"","sectionRoot":"Politics","adFlag":true,"noAds":false,"isAmbient":false,"sponsored":false,"hideDate":false,"hideReportTypo":false},"featuredImage":null,"dateline":"","seo":{"JSONLD":{"videoObject":{"name":"Trump says he won't fire Rod Rosenstein; says they have a 'good relationship'","description":"Rosenstein's future has been the subject of speculation in Washington circles.","uploadDate":"2018-10-08T17:14:13Z","thumbnailUrl":["https://s.abcnews.com/images/Politics/181008_vod_orig_trump_rosenstein_relationship_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg?w=384","https://s.abcnews.com/images/Politics/181008_vod_orig_trump_rosenstein_relationship_hpMain_4x3_992.jpg?w=384","https://s.abcnews.com/images/Politics/181008_vod_orig_trump_rosenstein_relationship_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg?w=384"],"url":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2018/10/181008_vod_orig_trump_rosenstein_relationship2_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","contentUrl":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2018/10/181008_vod_orig_trump_rosenstein_relationship2_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","publisher":{"name":"ABC News","logo":{"url":"","@type":"ImageObject"},"@type":"Organization"},"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","id":"https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/trump-fire-rod-rosenstein-good-relationship-58363382"},"duration":""}}},"LivePromotion":{}},"autoUpdate":{"enabled":false,"topics":["general-elections-2020-balance-of-power"]}},"upw":{"balanceOfPower":{"electoral":{"header":"Biden Projected to be President-Elect","candidates":{"democrats":{"id":1036,"displayName":"Joe Biden","shortDisplayName":"J. Biden","firstName":"Joe","lastName":"Biden","party":"democrats","major":true,"incumbent":false,"winner":true,"votes":306},"republicans":{"id":8639,"displayName":"Donald Trump","shortDisplayName":"D. Trump","firstName":"Donald","lastName":"Trump","party":"republicans","major":true,"incumbent":true,"winner":false,"votes":232},"other":{"displayName":"Other","votes":0}},"parties":{"democrats":"democrats","republicans":"republicans"},"type":"electoral","votes":{"democrats":{"available":{},"total":306,"difference":{},"popular":{"displayValue":"81,283,098","value":81283098}},"republicans":{"available":{},"total":232,"difference":{},"popular":{"displayValue":"74,222,958","value":74222958}},"other":{"available":{},"total":0,"popular":{}},"total":538},"needed":{"displayText":"270 to win","displayValue":"270","value":270},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-18T21:15:13.850Z","displayValue":"December 18, 4:15:13PM ET"},"reporting":"99% of Expected Vote Reporting"},"senate":{"header":"Senate Seat Results","candidates":{"democrats":{"displayName":"Democrats","icon":"party-democrats","votes":46,"winner":false},"republicans":{"displayName":"Republicans","icon":"party-republicans","votes":50,"winner":false},"other":{"displayName":"Other","votes":2}},"parties":{"democrats":"democrats","republicans":"republicans"},"type":"senate","votes":{"democrats":{"available":{"displayText":"12 Democrats up for election","shortDisplayText":"12 Dems. up for election","displayValue":"12","value":12},"total":46,"difference":{"displayText":"Gained 1 seat","displayValue":"1","value":1},"popular":{}},"republicans":{"available":{"displayText":"23 Republicans up for election","shortDisplayText":"23 Reps. up for election","displayValue":"23","value":23},"total":50,"difference":{"displayText":"Lost 1 seat","displayValue":"-1","value":-1},"popular":{}},"other":{"available":{"displayText":"0 Others up for election","shortDisplayText":"0 Others up for election","displayValue":"0","value":0},"total":2,"popular":{}},"total":100},"needed":{"displayText":"51 for control","displayValue":"51","value":51},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-17T18:22:05.390Z","displayValue":"December 17, 1:22:05PM ET"}},"house":{"header":"House Results: Dems Retain Control","candidates":{"democrats":{"displayName":"Democrats","icon":"party-democrats","votes":222,"winner":true},"republicans":{"displayName":"Republicans","icon":"party-republicans","votes":210,"winner":false},"other":{"displayName":"Other","votes":0}},"parties":{"democrats":"democrats","republicans":"republicans"},"type":"house","votes":{"democrats":{"available":{"displayText":"233 Democrats up for election","shortDisplayText":"233 Dems. up for election","displayValue":"233","value":233},"total":222,"difference":{"displayText":"Lost 10 seats","displayValue":"-10","value":-10},"popular":{}},"republicans":{"available":{"displayText":"201 Republicans up for election","shortDisplayText":"201 Reps. up for election","displayValue":"201","value":201},"total":210,"difference":{"displayText":"Gained 10 seats","displayValue":"10","value":10},"popular":{}},"other":{"available":{"displayText":"1 Others up for election","shortDisplayText":"1 Others up for election","displayValue":"1","value":1},"total":0,"popular":{}},"total":435},"needed":{"displayText":"218 for control","displayValue":"218","value":218},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-17T18:22:02.900Z","displayValue":"December 17, 1:22:02PM ET"}},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-18T21:15:13.850Z","displayValue":"December 18, 4:15:13PM ET"},"autoUpdate":{"enabled":false,"topics":["general-elections-2020-balance-of-power"]},"electionsConfig":{}},"types":["electoral","senate","house"]}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewabcnews,wdgasec,wdgnewabcnweb,wdgnewabcnewsrollup","ns":"abcnews","pageName":"abcn:politics:story","pageType":"story","pageUrl":"abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-intent-fire-rod-rosenstein-good-relationship/story?id=58362033&userab=abcn_web_article_ts-218*variant_c-820","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"abcn:site","tagID":"apage_news01","userABCookie":"abcn_web_article_ts-218*variant_c-820","alertTag":"Russia Investigation","authors":"Katherine Faulders, Erica Y King","authorsBureau":"none","authorsUnit":"none","dateline":"none","id":"58362033","modDate":"2018-10-08","mediaOnPage":"video","modTime":"16:59","provider":"ABC News","pubDate":"2018-10-08","pubTime":"14:23","section":"Politics","subBrand":"none","title":"Trump: No intent to fire Rod Rosenstein; says they have a 'good relationship'","videoId":"58363382","videoName":"Trump says he won't fire Rod Rosenstein; says they have a 'good relationship'","wordCount":380},"taboola":{"config":{"network":"abcnews-abcnews","mode":"thumbnails-a","type":"other","targetType":"mix","placement":null,"pageTypeOverrides":{"story":{"mode":"thumbnails-a","type":"article","targetType":"mix","placement":"Below Article Thumbnails"},"home":{"mode":"thumbnails-b","container":"taboola-homepage-thumbnails","type":"home","targetType":"mix","placement":"Homepage Thumbnails"},"section":{"mode":"thumbnails-b","type":"category","targetType":"mix","placement":"Section Front Thumbnails"},"liveBlog":{"mode":"thumbnails-d","type":"other","targetType":"mix","placement":"Blog"}}}}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/Politics/trump-intent-fire-rod-rosenstein-good-relationship/story?id=58362033&userab=abcn_web_article_ts-218*variant_c-820","vary":{"host":"abcnews.go.com","cached":true,"path":"/Politics/trump-intent-fire-rod-rosenstein-good-relationship/story","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","country":"us","userab":"abcn_web_article_ts-218*variant_c-820","region":"gdpr"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};