Sen. Cory Booker posted a clip of Vice President JD Vance condemning those who celebrated Charlie Kirk's death, then paired it with President Trump's Truth Social post celebrating Robert Mueller's passing. Booker argued the juxtaposition exposed a double standard within the MAGA movement. The post generated rapid reactions, with some allies echoing Trump and others sharply criticizing the comments as dehumanizing. Media outlets have sought comment from Booker, Vance, and the White House.
Booker Uses Vance's Own Words To Expose MAGA 'Hypocrisy' After Trump Celebrates Mueller's Death
Trump’s sick post celebrating the death of Robert Mueller set off a gleeful frenzy among his supporters online. / Donald Trump on Truth Social
Sen. Cory Booker on Sunday used a past statement from Vice President JD Vance to highlight what he called a striking double standard within the MAGA movement after President Donald Trump posted a celebratory message about the death of former special counsel Robert Mueller.
Senator Cory Booker dug up Vice President JD Vance's past comments on Sunday. / X
Booker shared a video clip of Vance's September Fox News appearance, in which Vance argued that people who celebrated the killing of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk should face consequences in civil society, including being fired. Booker juxtaposed that clip with a screenshot of Trump's Truth Social post in which the president wrote that he was glad Mueller had died and that Mueller "can no longer hurt innocent people." Booker captioned his post: 'Their hypocrisy knows no bounds.'
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung reposted a screenshot of Trump's vile comments. / X
Key Quotes and Context
“The First Amendment protects a lot of very ugly speech but if you celebrate Charlie Kirk's death, you should not be protected from being fired for being a disgusting person,” Vance said on Fox News in September, days after Kirk was killed. In the extended clip Booker shared, Vance added that civil society can and should impose consequences on those who celebrate such violence.
“Robert Mueller just died. Good, I'm glad he's dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, a post that was later reshared by White House communications director Steven Cheung.
The juxtaposition prompted swift reaction across the political spectrum. Several prominent MAGA-aligned figures echoed or defended Trump's comment, while critics condemned it as cruel and warned it risked normalizing celebratory language around death. Vocal Trump supporter Laura Loomer said Trump was expressing what some were thinking; former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan warned that the response could "open the door" for similar rhetoric in the future.
Mueller's cause of death was not immediately clear, but the former FBI director had reportedly been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for years.
Who Was Robert Mueller?
Robert Mueller, 81, was described in many remembrances as a Bronze Star combat veteran, a person of faith devoted to family, and a longtime public servant. He became a focal point of anger among Trump and his allies after being appointed special counsel to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Zeteo News founder Mehdi Hasan responds to Trump's post following the death of Robert Mueller. / X
The Daily Beast reported that it reached out to the offices of Sen. Booker and Vice President Vance, and to the White House, for comment.
Why It Matters: The episode underscores tensions over free speech, public accountability, and whether political allies should be criticized or disciplined for celebrating deaths — and it highlights how quickly statements by leaders can amplify through social platforms and partisan media.
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