HOLT: So, you had already made the decision?

TRUMP: Oh, I was going to fire regardless of recommendation.

HOLT: So, there was ...

(CROSSTALK)

TRUMP: They — made a recommendation. He's highly respected. Very good guy, very smart guy. And the Democrats like him. The Republicans like him. He had made a recommendation. But regardless of recommendation, I was going to fire Comey, knowing there was no good time to do it.

And in fact, when I decided to just do it, I said to myself — I said, you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story. It's an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should've won. And the reason they should've won it is the electoral college is almost impossible for a Republican to win. It's very hard because you start off at such a disadvantage. So everybody was thinking they should've won the election. This was an excuse for having lost an election.

HOLT: But were — are you angry … with Mr. Comey because of his Russia investigation?

TRUMP: I just want somebody that's competent. I am a big fan of the FBI. I love the FBI.