The president’s comments came in response to a question about whether he retains confidence in the man he appointed to lead the bureau in 2017.
By John Wagner John Wagner National reporter leading The Post's breaking political news team Email Bio Follow May 14 at 12:34 PM President Trump sharply criticized FBI Director Christopher A. Wray on Tuesday, saying he gave a “ridiculous answer” during congressional testimony last week when he declined to characterize an FBI investigation of Trump campaign advisers in 2016 as “spying.’’
“Well I didn’t understand his answer because I thought the attorney general answered it perfectly,” Trump said. “So I certainly didn’t understand that answer. I thought it was a ridiculous answer.”The FBI declined to comment on Trump’s remarks. In his testimony, Wray tried to make clear that although he did not use the term “spying” with regard to the Trump investigation, he was not picking a fight with those who do.
He also urged lawmakers to wait for the findings from Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz, who is expected to issue a report in a month or two about the origins of the FBI investigation into the Trump campaign, and the law enforcement tools that were used, including Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court orders.
Trump said he had not asked Barr to make the move but said, “I think it’s a great thing that he did it.”
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