James Comey. Gary Cameron/Reuters President Donald Trump's firing of FBI director James Comey came as a surprise to many. And the abrupt dismissal on Tuesday afternoon may have also caught Comey off-guard as well.

According to a New York Times report, Comey had found out he was dismissed from television news coverage that splashed on screens at an FBI field office in Los Angeles while he was addressing FBI employees.

After witnessing the televised report, Comey reportedly laughed, saying he thought it was a fairly funny prank, according to a separate New York Times report.

Comey then stopped addressing the group after staff members told him to enter a nearby office. Shaking hands with the group, Comey entered the office and confirmed that he was fired.

Shortly after the news broke, a letter was reported to have been delivered to FBI headquarters in Washington.

Comey was also scheduled to attend an FBI recruiting event in nearby Hollywood. He ultimately did not attend.

Comey was reportedly planning on making a speech about the FBI's work and to assist in helping potential recruits "receive personal career counseling from FBI special agents."