Donald Trump on Firing James Comey

Donald Trump on Firing James Comey Because of the Russia Investigation

THEN
NOW


2017
2018

Donald Trump on Firing James Comey Then
Donald Trump on Firing James Comey Now


#DonaldTrump 5/11/17: "I was going to fire Comey…When I decided…I said to myself…this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story." » 5/31/18: "I never fired James Comey because of Russia!" Click To Tweet

Donald Trump on Firing James Comey Because of the Russia Investigation

THEN

2017

Donald Trump on Firing James Comey Then
I just fired the head of the FBI. He was crazy, a real nut job. I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off.”
- May 10, 2017

From a document summarizing Trump's White House meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, and other Russian officials.

New York Times, May 19, 2017
Trump Told Russians That Firing ‘Nut Job’ Comey Eased Pressure From Investigation

(retrieved 7/12/18)
I was going to fire [James Comey] regardless of recommendation. They — he [Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein] made a recommendation. He’s highly respected. Very good guy, very smart guy. And the Democrats like him. The Republicans like him. He had made a recommendation. But regardless of recommendation, I was going to fire Comey knowing there was no good time to do it. And in fact, when I decided to just do it, I said to myself — I said, you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story.”
- May 11, 2017

NBC News (via Real Clear Politics), May 11, 2017
President Trump's Full Interview With Lester Holt: Firing Of James Comey

(retrieved 7/12/18)

NOW

2018

Donald Trump on Firing James Comey Because of Russia Now
James Comey, the worst FBI Director in history, was not fired because of the phony Russia investigation!”
“Not that it matters but I never fired James Comey because of Russia! The Corrupt Mainstream Media loves to keep pushing that narrative, but they know it is not true!”


#DonaldTrump 5/10/17: "I just fired the head of the FBI…I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off." » 4/18/18: "Comey…was not fired because of the phony Russia investigation!" #TrumpRussia Click To Tweet

LATER

Aug 30, 2018

Donald Trump Now

“What’s going on at @CNN is happening, to different degrees, at other networks – with @NBCNews being the worst… When Lester Holt got caught fudging my tape on Russia, they were hurt badly!”

The entire May 11, 2017 NBC News/Lester Holt interview with Donald Trump has been posted on NBC’s website since May, 2017. There is no indication that the interview has been “fudged.”