Liberal New York Times columnist Frank Bruni slammed former FBI director James Comey for comments he has made on his book tour this week, including his unflattering descriptions of President Trump’s physical appearance.
In a column published Monday night, Bruni characterized Comey’s TV appearances and some of the details in his book A Higher Loyalty as unseemly and unbecoming of his stature.
“Comey, for example, mentions his experience in two administrations before Trump’s and has judicious complaints about members of each,” he wrote. “He thus makes clear his broad frame of reference and ability to find flaw on both sides of the aisle. But he revisited and riffed further on Trump’s physical peculiarities with [ABC’s George] Stephanopoulos on Sunday night. Wasn’t he supposed to be better than this?”
In the interview with Stephanopoulos, Comey echoed a part from his book about Trump’s appearance, remarking on Trump’s skin color and the length of his tie (“too long”). He also recalled thinking Trump was shorter than he expected upon first meeting him.
Bruni said in his piece that by insulting Trump and appearing eager to profit from his book, Comey, who was fired by Trump last May, is losing a public relations war.
“[I]n succumbing to this sort of showboating and spite, hasn’t Comey joined Trump almost as much as he’s defying him?” he said. “Comey says that he means to shine a spotlight on what leadership should and shouldn’t be, and I hope that’s the long-term takeaway of the Higher Loyalty rollout and all the hours and miles being devoted to it. But right now I’m cringing at a food fight.”
