The Trump administration faces daily media coverage focused on so-called “palace intrigue” — speculation over personnel and the president’s management of his staff. Leaks from staffers prompt media speculation over which key players are currently in the president’s favor or relegated to the fringe.
Trump’s management style is often blamed for unrest among his staff, allegedly pitting competing factions against one another. Though James Comey did not work in the White House, his testimony on Thursday before the Senate Intelligence Committee provided an unusually detailed and candid glimpse into that management style.
Early in his testimony, Comey explained that Trump repeatedly praised his job performance. “The president and I had had multiple conversations about my job, both before and after he took office, and he had repeatedly told me I was doing a great job, and he hoped I would stay,” Comey said. “And I had repeatedly assured him that I did intend to stay and serve out the years of my term. He told me repeatedly that he had talked to lots of people about me, including our current attorney general, and had learned that I was doing a great job, and that I was extremely well-liked by the FBI workforce.”
But upon his decision to fire Comey, Trump cited his concerns over the FBI director’s handling of the Russia investigation, as well as overall disarray in the FBI, as his justification.
If the FBI were in chaos, and Comey was bungling an important investigation, why would Trump lavish him with affirmation and flattery before abruptly cutting him loose? And, if Trump believed the FBI was woefully mismanaged, why praise Comey rather than asking him to correct the pressing problems?
If Comey is correctly characterizing Trump’s attitude towards him, it gives the public an idea of how strategic the president is in his interactions with administration officials. Trump wanted to curry favor, and “loyalty,” with Comey, so he attempted to flatter him rather than critique him. When he did not sense he would receive sufficient loyalty from Comey, Trump pulled the trigger and let him go, leaning on criticisms of Comey and his department that were allegedly never emphasized in previous interactions.
That Trump’s expressed feelings towards Comey so sharply departed from his true feelings should also give readers even more pause when considering anonymously-sourced media reports on administration personnel.
Emily Jashinsky is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
