Donald Trump defends firing of FBI director, pledges 'far better' replacement

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday defended his firing of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) director, blasting Democratic critics who decried the move and vowing to replace James Comey with someone "far better."

"Comey lost the confidence of almost everyone in Washington, Republican and Democrat alike. When things calm down, they will be thanking me," Trump wrote in a series of posts on Twitter one day after he fired the top US law enforcement official. 

Comey had been leading a probe into the Trump 2016 presidential campaign's possible collusion with Russia to influence the election outcome. 

Trump's tweets on Comey:

The Democrats have said some of the worst things about James Comey, including the fact that he should be fired, but now they play so sad!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2017

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

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 move stunned Washington and raised concerns among Democrats and others that the White House was trying to blunt the FBI probe involving Russia.

Some Democrats compared Trump's move to the "Saturday Night Massacre" of 1973, in which President Richard Nixon fired an independent special prosecutor investigating the Watergate scandal.

White House officials denied allegations that there was any political motive in the move by Trump, who took office on January 20.