Donald Trump has been condemned as a “vile, disgusting man” and a “sick human being” after gloating over the death of Robert Mueller, a former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Mueller, a decorated Vietnam war veteran who led a politically explosive investigation into Trump, died on Friday aged 81, triggering a callous reaction from the US president.

“Robert Mueller just died,” Trump responded quickly on his Truth Social platform. “Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!”

Even by the president’s own norm-shredding standards, the comment was unusually harsh. There was a chorus of opprobrium from the “Never Trump” movement in his own Republican party.

Michael Steele, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, wrote on X: “@realDonaldTrump you are a vile disgusting man. Petty and pathetic, you are a hypocrite who reeks of weakness and insecurities with no moral core. Regardless of the politics, the American people should be embarrassed and ashamed for ever having entrusted you with leadership.”