The White House has shelved the idea of having President Donald Trump visit the FBI headquarters this week because he might get a harsh reception after he fired director James Comey.

NBC News reports that the idea was talked about as recently as Thursday morning, but the administration learned that since many people in the FBI liked Comey, Trump would likely get a cool welcome at the Washington, D.C. office.

"My sense is most FBI employees feel a loyalty to Comey," an FBI employee at the bureau's headquarters told NBC. "And whether they agree or disagree with the way he handled the [Hillary Clinton] email case, [they] like and respect him . . . Trump would not be well-received at headquarters."

Deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Thursday morning she expected the president to swing by the FBI office in the coming days.

Trump fired Comey Tuesday afternoon for "not doing a good job." Critics, including the majority of Democrats, insinuated that Trump sent Comey his walking papers because the FBI is continuing to push forward with its investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia.