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Donald Trump sent an extraordinary fusillade of angry tweets about the investigation into possible ties between his election campaign and Russia, amid reports that the special counsel leading the inquiry could make its first arrests as soon as Monday.

Trump, in a series of tweets on Sunday referencing what he called phony Trump/Russia collusion which doesnt exist, accused Democrats of a witch hunt and evil politics, before adding that Republicans were fighting back like never before.

The outburst followed reports in CNN, Reuters and the Wall Street Journal that the team led by special counsel Robert Mueller had filed its first charges under seal on Friday.

The Russia investigation has cast a shadow over the US presidents nine months in office, and has widened the partisan rift between Republicans and Democrats.

US intelligence agencies concluded in January that Russia interfered in the election to try to help Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton by hacking and releasing embarrassing emails and disseminating propaganda via social media to discredit her. Mueller is also investigating whether Trump campaign officials colluded with those Russian efforts.

The investigation has been circling some of Trumps closest confidants, such as his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, and his former campaign manager Paul Manafort. Federal law enforcement officials raided and searched Manaforts Virginia home this summer.

Trump and his supporters have disparaged Mueller and tried to portray him as a sympathiser of Clinton and James Comey, the FBI chief fired by Trump.

On Sunday, the president sought to focus attention instead on supposed scandals involving Clinton, demanding authorities do something. As he did so, his most bullish defender strove to cast doubt on the reach and integrity of Mueller.

We have to have the public have confidence in the fact that the grand jury process is secret and, as a result, is fair, the New Jersey governor, Chris Christie, told ABC.

Trump tweeted furiously without referencing the sealed indictment outright.

Never seen such Republican ANGER & UNITY as I have concerning the lack of investigation on Clinton, the president wrote.

Instead they look at phony Trump/Russia, collusion, which doesnt exist. The [Democrats] are using this terrible (and bad for our country) Witch Hunt for evil politics, but the [Republicans] are now fighting back like never before.

There is so much GUILT by Democrats/Clinton, and now the facts are pouring out. DO SOMETHING!

He concluded: All of this Russia talk right when the Republicans are making their big push for historic Tax Cuts & Reform. Is this coincidental? NOT!

Appearing on multiple news shows on a difficult day for the White House, Christie raised the possibility Muellers team was engaged in criminal leaks to the media.

Its supposed to be kept secret, he said on CBSs Face the Nation. There are very strict criminal laws about disclosing grand jury information. Now, depending upon who disclosed this to CNN, it could be a crime.

Speaking on ABCs This Week, Christie said he hoped the news was not traceable to Muellers team. As a [former] prosecutor, he said, I can tell you that was the thing that we emphasized the most with our prosecutors and our agents was, Let me tell you something: we will prosecute you if we find that you leaked this stuff.

Following Trumps pardon of Sheriff Joe Arpaio, an ardent supporter, political observers have wondered if the president will wield such powers to remove the pressure on those below him. Asked on CNN if Trump might be considering pre-emptive pardons, Christie said: Ive never seen the president talk about that.

Arpaio, Christie noted, was not convicted of a crime related to Trumps campaign or election.

Muellers investigation has expanded to examine whether Trump officials attempted to stymie the investigation, or were involved in money laundering or tax evasion. Mueller was appointed as special counsel after Trump fired James Comey as director of the FBI, a move he told NBC was made because of this Russia thing.

Earlier this month, Muellers team also questioned Sean Spicer, Trumps former spokesman, and Reince Priebus, his former chief of staff.

Some Republicans in Trumps orbit, such as the former White House adviser Sebastian Gorka, have called for Mueller to step down. Many observers have suggested that firing Mueller, a possibility floated by Trump surrogates, would trigger congressional action against the president.

On ABC on Sunday, Christie said: The last public word we have on any of this is that the president himself is not under investigation.

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Russia inquiry: Donald Trump sends barrage of angry tweets ...

These numbers would grow over time, for reasons Ill explain. Ultimately, the plan would be likely to hurt the finances of the vast majority of Americans. No wonder it is starting to look politically vulnerable. Last week, a precursor bill barely passed the House, receiving 20 no votes from Republicans, many worried about the tax increases.

Republican leaders certainly have a path to passing a tax bill, because nothing unites modern Republicans the way a tax cut does. But the opposition to the recent health care bills also started as an underdog and managed to prevail, by relentlessly talking about the bills effects. When enough Americans understood the truth, enough members of Congress felt pressure to vote no.

The same could happen on taxes. It is already starting to. Recent polls suggest the plans approval rating is only about 30 percent.

To understand the Trump tax increases, you should first acknowledge the most admirable feature of his plan. It doesnt aspire to be merely a tax cut. It aspires to be tax reform both cuts and increases. Some deductions shrink, while rates fall, in the name of simplifying the tax code.

But after this promising start, the plan commits its cardinal sin. It places the highest priority on huge tax cuts for the very wealthy. They get lower rates and get to keep cherished tax breaks, like the carried interest loophole. Herbert Hoovers Republican Party wanted to put a chicken in every pot. Donald Trumps wants to put a yacht at every private dock.

Having lavished so much money on the wealthy, the tax package or at least the vague framework that the administration has released doesnt have much remaining to spend on middle class and poor families. For them, the package is a mix of pluses and minuses. Many face a lower tax rate, but some face a higher one, and many families lose deductions.

The combination creates a lot of losers. Reduced deductions for children, for example, hurt large families, notes N.Y.U.s Lily Batchelder. And the deduction for state and local taxes also a target for cuts now benefits 30 percent of households nationwide. It was the main reason for last weeks House defections, and the tensions over it havent been resolved.

Then there are the long-term problems I mentioned earlier. First, Trumps plan takes a skimpy approach to inflation adjustments, which will push many families into higher tax brackets over time. Second, the plan would radically increase the federal deficit, and when it comes to the deficit, what goes up must eventually come down. At some point, the government will need to pay its bills, through a combination of tax increases and spending cuts.

Virtually any future deficit-reduction plan except for a repeal of the Trump tax plan would hurt most families more than his plan helps them. This chain of events has happened before. The Reagan and George W. Bush tax cuts may have at first seemed to help the middle class and poor. But the deficits led to later cuts in education, medical research, transportation and anti-poverty programs that almost surely erased the benefits of a modest tax cut. Already, todays congressional leaders are talking about sizable cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.

Trump and his allies are feverishly trying to claim their plan really would benefit the middle class. Their latest talking point is the notion that corporate tax cuts will create an indirect windfall for workers. Funny, though, how the wealthy get most of the direct benefits, while everyone else has to hope for indirect ones somehow to materialize.

The main lesson of this years health care battle was the political power of facts. They dont always win the day, but its better to have them as an ally than an enemy. Right now, facts are the biggest problem for Trumps tax plan.

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Opinion | Donald Trump Wants to Raise Your Taxes

Photo Michael Moore in his solo show, The Terms of My Surrender, which recently closed on Broadway. Mr. Moore posted a lengthy response on Twitter after President Trump said Saturday that the show was a failure. Credit Sara Krulwich/The New York Times

Well, Michael Moore succeeded in getting the presidents attention.

On Saturday evening, six days after The Terms of My Surrender, Mr. Moores solo show decrying President Trump, closed on Broadway, the president took a gleeful jab at the liberal provocateur on Twitter.

Mr. Trumps assertion that the show was forced to close is incorrect. The show had been announced in May as a 12-week limited run, and it ran the full 12 weeks.

Michael Moores Broadway show was always meant to be a limited engagement, said Rick Miramontez, a spokesman for the show. It closed, as planned, on Sunday, Oct. 22. It was not forced to close early.

Mr. Trumps assertion that the show was a total bomb is a matter of opinion, and in a barrage of tweets late Saturday, Mr. Moore declared his show a smash hit before touting his production and taunting the president.

Given the shows limited run and modest grosses, neither the phrase total bomb nor smash hit seems to be a precise description of its financial performance. The capitalization costs are not public for The Terms of My Surrender, which was produced by IMG Original Content and Carole Shorenstein Hays. But it played to houses that were often about three-quarters full, and its weekly grosses ranged from about $260,000 to $460,000. It took in $4.2 million over all and was seen by 74,484 people, according to the Broadway League.

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Donald Trump and Michael Moore Quarrel Over Broadway Show ...

Donald Trump refuses to take a knee when it comes to countering the wave of national anthem protests across the NFL.

President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence released a petition demanding all players and fans stand for the national anthem and emailed supporters asking for signatures Thursday, according to the GOP's website.

"The President has asked for a list of supporters who stand for the National Anthem. Add your name below to show your patriotism and support," the petition reads, before asking for your name, email and zip code.

The petition comes just one day after Trump criticized the NFL for not passing a rule that would penalize players who don't stand for the anthem.

Trump continues to attack NFL, owners won't make players stand

"The NFL has decided that it will not force players to stand for the playing of our National Anthem. Total disrespect for our great country!" Trump tweeted early Wednesday morning.

While Roger Goodell said he believes everyone "should" stand for the anthem, the league will not mandate players to do so after meeting with owners, players and union representatives Tuesday.

In a later tweet, Trump suggested action needed to be taken in response to the large number of players who continue to protest during the national anthem.

".@NFL: Too much talk, not enough action. Stand for the National Anthem," Trump tweeted.

Jaguars owner Shad Khan: Trump is a 'great divider'

The NFL and NFLPA released a statement Tuesday describing the meeting as productive and a step in the right direction to "promote positive social change and address inequality."

Players kneel during the national anthem

Trump has harshly criticized players who refuse to stand for the anthem, previously stating at a rally in late September owners need to "get that son of a bitch off the field."

Trump's comments, however, only appeared to fuel the anthem protest movement as more players than ever before protested the national anthem in some manner the following Sunday.

As of Wednesday evening, neither the NFL nor the NFLPA has released a statement addressing Trumps petition.

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Donald Trump releases Stand for the National Anthem ...

Donald Trump will not visit Britain until next year, the White House confirmed on Friday.

The US president was invited to Britain a week after his inauguration, when Theresa May became the first foreign leader to visit at the White House. Trump has since travelled to France and Germany.

On Friday, the White House press secretary, Sarah Sanders, conceded it has still not been determined whether Trump would make a state visit or a working visit to Britain. The latter would be without royal pageantry or a stopover with the Queen.

Were still going back and forth with our allies there and once we have those travel details outlined and determined well certainly let you know, Sanders said. But theyve made the invitation for the president to come. Weve accepted and were working out the logistics.

We anticipate that it will be some time next year but at this point theres no other details beyond that.

In June it emerged that Trump told May he did not want to go ahead with a state visit until the British public supported him coming.

In July the Guardian reported that the UK government had conceded that the visit would not take place until 2018, amid claims that Trump had been scared off by the threat of protests.

The Stop Trump Coalition and other campaigns have vowed a massive show of force on the streets. Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, called for the visit to be cancelled after Trump criticised his response to the London Bridge terrorist attack.

The president provoked a further backlash on Friday when he tweeted: Just out report: United Kingdom crime rises 13% annually amid spread of Radical Islamic terror. Not good, we must keep America safe!

British police recorded 5.2m offences in the last year, only a fraction of which were associated with terrorism. Former Labour leader Ed Miliband called Trump a moron while Conservative backbencher Nicholas Soames described him as a daft twerp who needed to fix gun control.

Trump did attend the G20 summit in Germany and joined celebrations for Bastille Day in Paris on 14 July, a coup of sorts for President Emmanuel Macron although the visit was far from universally praised in France.

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Donald Trump will not visit Britain until 2018, White ...