Robert Mueller who served with distinction as the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 2001-2013 died on March 20 at the age of eighty one. He was suffering from Parkinson’s disease for the past five years. His death was widely mourned by America’s bureaucratic elite, especially those in law enforcement. Mueller was hailed for his years of public service. In the midst of tributes to Mueller’s memory, President Donald Trump made remarks on him. He wrote on Truth Social “Robert Mueller just died. Good. I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people”!

Trump is intemperate—and that is a light word for him—to friends and foes alike. He does not care if his obnoxious remarks are being directed at domestic or foreign leaders. Trump makes disparaging remarks about his predecessor Joe Biden. In his view the 2020 election was stolen from him and therefore Biden had no right to be President. Biden does not respond to him and the American media has also now given up on pointing out that Trump debases himself and his office by being nasty to his predecessor. And, most foreign leaders do not respond because they do not want to earn the ire of the world’s most powerful man. But it is simply mind boggling that Trump should have expressed satisfaction at Mueller’s death. This has led to an intense outrage against Trump.

Michael Steele who has served as Head of the Republican National Committee was among those who were outraged. He responded to Trump’s comment. He stated “You are a vile, disgusting man. Petty and pathetic. You are a hypocrite who reeks of weakness and insanity with no moral core”. These were very strong words from a person who has held an important position in American politics. It is especially significant that Steele is a Republican. Some Americans may not have appreciated Steele’s personal remarks but many would have felt that Trump had it coming because he makes personal remarks every day in speech and in his posts on Truth Social.

Trump had a special antipathy towards Robert Mueller because he felt that Mueller unfairly went after him regarding Russia’s supposed interference in the 2016 US Presidential election; Trump unexpectedly defeated Hillary Clinton in the election. Following charges that the Russians had helped Trump swing the election, Robert Mueller was appointed in 2017 as Special Counsel to investigate if Trump and his associates had conspired with Russia to win the election. The Mueller Report was submitted in 2019 to the US Attorney General. The American Constitution Society summarised the Report’s findings thus:

“Russian interference in the 2016 election was “sweeping and systemic”. Major attack avenues included a social media “information warfare” campaign that “favored” candidate Trump and the hacking of Clinton campaign-related databases and release of stolen materials through Russian-created entities and Wikileaks. Russia also targeted databases in many states related to administering elections gaining access to information for millions of registered voters”.

Mueller also concluded that Trump obstructed legal proceedings in some instances. While it did not find a smoking gun to state that there was material to charge Trump it also refused to absolve him of wrongdoing. It left that matter hanging. At the same time Mueller’s findings claimed that some associates of Trump had engaged in wrong doing. Consequently, some pleaded guilty and some were charged in court. All this has obviously continued to deeply rankle with Trump.

All societies have always expected that their political and social leaders will set high standards in their dealing with others. Their conduct is emulated by other members of society. It is therefore incumbent on leaders to be particularly conscious of their deportment and speech. Almost all leaders are conscious of popular expectations and follow conventions, at least, in public. Hence, it comes as a shock to people when a leader behaves crassly and is obnoxious in his speech.

Correct conduct on the part of leaders does not mean that they cannot indulge in humour or even satire. It does not mean that they always have to maintain a serious demeanor and carry a grim visage. Often a smile on the face of leaders encourages people and humour in the proceedings of legislative bodies enlivens its proceedings on serious matters.

Indian leaders have generally maintained high standards in their personal deportment. For some of them the Indian people have had very high regard. This is not only for their competence but because in all their years in public life they never uttered an inappropriate word. In these days when our public exchanges are becoming astringent it is useful to recall a person like Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Vajpayee spent five decades in the public life of this country and reached the pinnacle of success by becoming Prime Minister. He conducted himself impeccably and never expressed himself harshly to friends or political foes. He was not only a renowned public speaker but also a great parliamentarian. He relied on logic and wit to present his view point. He was never hurtful even in his repartee. Even during the most stressful times he never lost his equanimity. He held his emotions and always maintained a calm visage. No wonder Vajpayee was admired by the people; they had great affection for him too.

It is impossible for Trump to emulate Vajpayee but the least he can do is not to say “good” at the death of any person.

© Greater Kashmir