Breaking: Trump aims to end Mueller probe with a surprising addition to legal team

The Washington Post reported Thursday that former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is joining President Trump's legal team and he aims to negotiate an end to special counsel Robert Mueller's investigations into Russian election interference and alleged collusion with the Trump campaign.

Here's what Trump says about the surprising hire

Trump's lawyer Jay Sekulow released a statement about Giuliani joining the president's legal team, with a comment from Trump.

"Rudy is great," Trump said in the statement. "He has been my friend for a long time and wants to get this matter quickly resolved for the good of the country."

Giuliani explained what his goal was to be on the team - to negotiate an end to the Mueller investigation.

“I’m doing it because I hope we can negotiate an end to this for the good of the country and because I have high regard for the president and for Bob Mueller,” Giuliani said to the Washington Post. 

‘It is an honor to be a part of such an important legal team, and I look forward to not only working with the President but with Jay [Sekulow], Ty [Cobb], and their colleagues,” Giuliani added in a statement.

Rosenstein's fate

Giuliani was asked about whether he believed Trump should fire Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who has authority over the special counsel investigations after Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself.

“I’m not involved in anything about those issues," responded Giuliani. "My advice on Mueller has been this: He should be allowed to do his job, he’s entitled to do his job.”

Many of Trump's allies have been recommending that Trump fire Rosenstein and replace him with someone who would end the special counsel investigation. Democrats, including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and some Republicans have warned Trump that there would be dire consequences if he didn't allow the Mueller investigations to continue to their natural conclusion.