A phone call which then-Homeland Security Chief John Kelly placed to James Comey right after Trump discharged the former FBI Director was first reported by CNN last year. James Comey’s book A Higher Loyalty provides both on the record confirmation and additional details of the conversation. If Trump went bananas over Steve Bannon being quoted in Wolff’s book, one can only wonder how he’ll react to hearing how John Kelly, whom Trump has called “another nut job who thinks he’s running the place” really talks about him behind his back. Daily Beast:
According to Comey’s account...Kelly was “emotional” over the manner in which Comey was let go. The then-FBI Director had reportedly been in California at the time, speaking to FBI agents in Los Angeles, and only found out that he was out of a job when he saw the news break on TV.
Kelly, Comey recalls, said he was “sick” about the situation and “intended to quit” in protest. Kelly “said he didn’t want to work for dishonorable people,” referring specifically to President Donald Trump, who appeared to be upset at the FBI’s persistent investigation into his campaign’s possible collusion with Russian officials.
According to sources, Comey writes in his book that he encouraged Kelly to remain in his post, saying “this president,” more than his predecessors, needed people of principle and integrity around him.
Relations between Kelly and Trump have degenerated to the point of them being overheard screaming at one another behind closed doors. The Comey book has already provoked a great deal of interest, through an ad for a 20/20 interview, scheduled to air this Sunday, where Comey described Trump as a “mob boss” to George Stephanopoulos. The White House is preparing for a firestorm.
The Trump White House is not amassing an official rapid response operation, reportedly due to internal concerns that the president would quickly undermine official talking points by directly responding to Comey’s claims and public utterances. But White House officials told The Daily Beast that their strategy regarding the book and the Comey tour will be largely shaped in real-time, forming and adjusting to accommodate however publicly furiously Trump reacts.
Kelly has reportedly told Trump that he would resign if asked to, as recently as February. Trump has let it be known that he has considered operating without a Chief of Staff and having everybody report to him directly. Mark your calendar, because either way, there’s going to be a hot time in the White House Tuesday night.