James Comey memoir brings fresh turmoil for Trump
President launches Twitter tirade as former FBI chief likens him to an insecure mafia boss in explosive book

Donald Trump has described James Comey, the FBI director who he fired last May, as a “weak and untruthful slime ball” after the first leaks have emerged from Comey’s long-awaited memoir.
While the US President’s Twitter outburst is dramatic, it’s unlikely to have the impact of Comey’s book, A Higher Loyalty, which has US political analysts salivating ahead of its publication next week.
Stephen Collinson of CNN describes the advance copy he saw as “nothing less than the most devastating, contemporaneous takedown of a sitting president in modern history”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Revenge is a dish best served cold, he says, and 11 months after he was fired by Trump, Comey’s 304-page memoir is “unsparing, richly detailed and mortifying for the President”.
He adds: “He painted Trump as a relentless liar who is obsessively unethical, devoid of humanity and a slave to his ego, who is clueless about his job and unconcerned about a Russian assault on American democracy.
“Jabbing the President in a strikingly personal way, Comey noted the size of Trum’s hands, said his skin looked orange and described white rings around his eyes from tanning goggles.”
The memoir will bring “fresh turmoil” to the White House, says The Guardian, which reports that Comey likens Trump’s presidency to a “forest fire” and repeatedly paints Trump as a “mafia-style boss”.
According to the BBC, the former FBI director describes Trump as “untethered to the truth” and unable to laugh because of his “deep insecurity… which, on reflection, is really very sad in a leader, and a little scary in a president”.
The book’s imminent release comes amid a media blitz by the former FBI director, which began on Friday when ABC aired part of an interview that will be shown on Sunday night.
“During the segment, Comey said he didn’t know whether to believe Trump’s denial that he had spent time with prostitutes in Moscow before he became president,” notes the paper.
In an attempt to limit the damage, Republicans are waging a “widespread campaign” to undercut Comey’s credibility, says The Washington Post.
Trump’s supporters are unimpressed. Fox News analyst Robert Charles describes the book as a “hatchet job” and accuses Comey of “petty criticism” and using “salacious slurs” in order to increase sales.
He adds: “It’s important for every fair-minded person to remember that just because Comey makes a charge, he is not speaking gospel truth – despite his inflated sense of virtue and self-importance.
“[The book] lowers the reputation of both the FBI and Comey, undermines the presidency and hurts the nation.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
What does the Le Pen verdict mean for the future of French politics?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Convicted of embezzlement and slapped with a five year ban on running for public office, where does arch-conservative Marine Le Pen go from here — and will the movement she leads follow?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Discount stores were thriving. How did they stumble?
The Explainer Blame Walmart — and inflation
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Kaja Kallas: the EU's new chief diplomat shaping the future of European defense
In the Spotlight Former Estonian Prime Minister's status as an uncompromising Russia hawk has gone from liability to strength
By David Faris Published
-
Trump 'not joking' about unconstitutional 3rd term
Speed Read The president seems to be serious about seeking a third term in 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Why does Donald Trump want Greenland?
The Explainer Trump is not the only US president who has tried to gain control of Greenland
By The Week UK Published
-
What dangers does the leaked Signal chat expose the US to?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION The White House's ballooning group chat scandal offered a masterclass in what not to say when prying eyes might be watching
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump sets 25% tariffs on auto imports
Speed Read The White House says the move will increase domestic manufacturing. But the steep import taxes could also harm the US auto industry.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Even authoritarian regimes need a measure of public support — the consent of at least some of the governed'
instant opinion 'Opinion, comment and editorials of the day'
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Waltz takes blame for texts amid calls for Hegseth ouster
Speed Read Democrats are calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Michael Waltz to step down
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
USPS Postmaster General DeJoy steps down
Speed Read Louis DeJoy faced ongoing pressure from the Trump administration as they continue to seek power over the postal system
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge: Nazis treated better than Trump deportees
speed read U.S. District Judge James Boasberg reaffirmed his order barring President Donald Trump from deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published