Former Federal Bureau of Investigations Director James Comey provoked many Twitter users Sunday for wishing for “more ethical leadership” in the new year.

“Here’s hoping 2018 brings more ethical leadership, focused on the truth and lasting values,” Comey wrote in what’s widely being interpreted as a shot at President Trump, who fired the director in May.

Here’s hoping 2018 brings more ethical leadership, focused on the truth and lasting values. Happy New Year, everybody. — James Comey (@Comey) December 31, 2017

The backlash was swift.

Here is hoping 2018 the U.S. will have a clean, politically, FBI. 1 that will actually do their jobs. https://t.co/JRJQjT3CFO — David Weissman (@davidmweissman) January 1, 2018

Lordy, how could you type that with a straight face? https://t.co/Yr2zciO48S — Tom (@Tomvegas1) January 1, 2018

Ethical leadership - you mean like being "extremely careless" instead of "grossly negligent?" https://t.co/UJQvkjH1qI — Chicks On The Right (@chicksonright) January 1, 2018

Comey’s tweet comes after the FBI is under intense scrutiny for how it conducted the investigation of Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server, as well as the neutrality of top agency officials.

Over the last year, it was revealed Comey began drafting his July 2016 exoneration statement before key witnesses in the Clinton email investigation had been interviewed. The inspector general review also is looking into whether FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe – whose wife has strong ties to the Democratic Party – should not have been involved in the investigation. Other top FBI officials, who worked under Comey and were involved in the Russia investigation, have also come under scrutiny for anti-Trump messages. Lawmakers have been alarmed by recently revealed texts from FBI official Peter Strzok, who called Trump an “idiot” and who referenced an “insurance policy” against a Trump presidency. Strzok had been assigned to Robert Mueller’s special counsel probe, but has since been reassigned. (FoxNews.com)

Since being fired from the FBI, Comey has landed a multimillion-dollar book deal reflecting on his career, which is titled “A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership.”

“His book promises to take us inside those extraordinary moments in our history, showing us how these leaders have behaved under pressure,” Flatiron publisher and President Bob Miller said in a statement. “By doing so, Director Comey will give us unprecedented entry into the corridors of power, and a remarkable lesson in leadership itself.”