President Trump early Wednesday said the new FBI director will do a better job than former Director James Comey, whom the president fired a day earlier.

"James Comey will be replaced by someone who will do a far better job, bringing back the spirit and prestige of the FBI," the president tweeted Wednesday.

James Comey will be replaced by someone who will do a far better job, bringing back the spirit and prestige of the FBI. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2017

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The president also said the former FBI director had lost the "confidence" of nearly everyone in Washington and predicted people would be "thanking" him for his decision.

"Comey lost the confidence of almost everyone in Washington, Republican and Democrat alike," Trump tweeted. "When things calm down, they will be thanking me!"

Comey lost the confidence of almost everyone in Washington, Republican and Democrat alike. When things calm down, they will be thanking me! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2017

The president on Tuesday fired Comey, who had been leading the investigation into potential ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, which is suspected of having played a role in influencing the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.

The dismissal came in a signed letter from Trump to Comey that said it was time for a "new beginning" at the nation's "crown jewel of law enforcement."

The move shocked Washington and sparked outrage from Democrats, who said the president was trying to shut down the FBI's investigation.

Trump has in the past offered praise for Comey's actions.

He said in the fall that it "took a lot of guts" for Comey to send the Oct. 28 letter to Congress regarding Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Virginia Democrat blasts Trump's 'appalling' remark about COVID-19 deaths in 'blue states' The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden asks if public can trust vaccine from Trump ahead of Election Day | Oklahoma health officials raised red flags before Trump rally MORE's use of a private email server "in light of the kind of opposition he had where they're trying to protect her from criminal prosecution."