Politics

Trump 'may live tweet' while James Comey is testifying before Senate

Key Points
  • President Donald Trump may live tweet during former FBI Director James Comey's testimony on Thursday, according to The Washington Post's Robert Costa.
  • Comey will likely be asked during the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing about reports that Trump may have tried to influence an FBI investigation.
  • Some Trump allies have urged the president to stop tweeting about legal issues.
Trump 'may live tweet' while James Comey is testifying before Senate
VIDEO0:5000:50
Trump 'may live tweet' while James Comey is testifying before Senate

Even some of President Donald Trump's allies have urged him to stop tweeting about legal issues, but that may not stop the president from sounding off on Thursday.

Trump may tweet while former FBI Director James Comey testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday, The Washington Post's Robert Costa reported Tuesday.

Trump "does not plan to put down Twitter" and "may live tweet if he feels the need to respond" to the testimony, according to Costa, who cited two White House sources.

Costa tweet: I'm told by two WH sources that Pres. Trump does not plan to put down Twitter on Thursday. May live tweet if he feels the need to respond.

Comey will likely be grilled about reports that Trump attempted to influence an FBI probe into ex-national security advisor Michael Flynn. Comey's statements could prompt the famously defensive Trump to tweet in response.

Asked by reporters Tuesday what message he had for Comey, Trump said "I wish him luck."

Press secretary Sean Spicer did not say whether Trump would watch Comey's testimony live, says he is going to have a "very busy day."

Trump on Tuesday defended his use of Twitter to put out impromptu statements, saying it helps him get out an "honest and unfiltered message." He claimed that large news outlets — which he regularly labels the "fake" mainstream media — did not want him to use social media.

The FAKE MSM is working so hard trying to get me not to use Social Media. They hate that I can get the honest and unfiltered message out.

Trump's lawyers and some of his advisors have tried to rein in his Twitter activity because his tweets sometimes contradict other administration statements or even undercut its legal arguments. The latest instance of the latter came Monday, when Trump fired off a series of tweets attacking his Justice Department for submitting a "watered down" version of his "travel ban" for review by the Supreme Court.

Prominent lawyer and Trump supporter George Conway argued Monday that Trump's tweets can "seriously undermine" his agenda and that his backers need to "reinforce" that.

On Thursday, Comey will speak to an open hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee followed by a closed session. The hearing is part of the panel's probe into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election and possible ties between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.

Trump fired Comey as the then-FBI director was leading an investigation into those possible links.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request to comment on this story.