Report: FBI agents are changing their Facebook profile pictures to Comey

FBI agents are reportedly changing their Facebook profile photos to pictures of James Comey — or pictures of them with Comey — to show their support for the sacked FBI director.

The Daily Beast reported that at least a dozen agents had changed their photos, a gesture usually reserved for fellow agents slain in the line of duty.

The demonstration of solidarity would seem to contradict remarks by White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who said "countless members of the FBI' had told her that the rank-and-file FBI had lost confidence in Comey and backed the firing of their director. Those comments were flatly denied by acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe during testimony Thursday before a Senate panel.

Meanwhile morale at the agency is reportedly suffering.

Former FBI Director James Comey, who was abruptly fired Tuesday by President Trump, told his colleagues that he will be fine. He urged them to put the incident behind them. Former FBI Director James Comey, who was abruptly fired Tuesday by President Trump, told his colleagues that he will be fine. He urged them to put the incident behind them. Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Report: FBI agents are changing their Facebook profile pictures to Comey 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

"The real impact will be the distrust of the agency under the leadership of the new director," one agent told the Daily Beast.

"No matter who gets the job, there will be a cloud of suspicion because the president is unpopular with much of the population. That bad faith will make it harder to do my job."

On Thursday, NBC reported that the White House "has abandoned the idea of President Trump visiting FBI headquarters after being told he would not be greeted warmly," according to administration officials.

In a letter to his former colleagues, Comey said, "I have long believed that a President can fire an FBI Director for any reason, or for no reason at all."

He urged the agents and staff to move on with their lives and careers.

"I'm not going to spend time on the decision or the way it was executed. I hope you won't either. It is done, and I will be fine, although I will miss you and the mission deeply," Comey wrote.