Trump celebrates death of ex-FBI chief Bob Mueller who led Russia collusion probe

American President Donald Trump has expressed his excitement over the death of a former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bob Mueller, who led the investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 United States election.

“Robert Mueller just died. Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!” Mr Trump said in a post on Truth Social immediately after the news of Mr Mueller’s death broke on Saturday.

The family of Mr Mueller had announced his passing on Saturday, years after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the summer of 2021. He was 81.

“With deep sadness, we are sharing the news that Bob passed away” on Friday night, his family said in a statement. “His family asks that their privacy be respected.”

Mr Mueller was considered one of the pioneers behind the revamping of the FBI, from combating crime to now countering national security risks in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack.

He became a long-term enemy of Mr Trump following his probe that found Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election that saw the American leader emerge as the winner ahead of Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton.

Subsequently, Mr Mueller concluded that he could neither absolve nor accuse Mr Trump of a crime, which apparently fuelled the politician’s years-long resentment toward the deceased.

Mr Trump and his supporters have repeatedly dismissed the Russian collusion claim as a hoax.