here. appreciate it. >> why did you fire director comey? president trump: he was not doing a good job, very simply. excuse me? not at all. >> thank you. thank you. [all talking at once] >> thank you. president trump: thank you, everybody. thank you. >> mr. vice president, what is your response to being asked whether he was ian effort to distract the investigation? yesterday pence: president trump provide strong and decisive leadership to distor restore the confidence of the people in the federal bureau of investigation.

i am grateful for the actions the president has taken. i'm confident that the president will choose an individual who will be able to restore the confidence of our nation and our leading law-enforcement agency. president trump made the right decision at the right time. to accept the recommendation of the deputy attorney general and the attorney general to ask for the termination to support the termination of the director of the fbi. it was simply the right decision. we go forward with confidence that the president, as he has done so many times in this administration, he will select that individual who will be able to lead that agency and the outstanding men and women of the fbi back to a place where that that agency can enjoy the confidence of the american people. >> as you know very clearly, as has been stated repeatedly in the president has been told, he is not under investigation.

director clapper said there is no evidence of collusion between our campaign and any russian officials. let me be clear with you. that was not what this is about. that is not what this is about. the president took strong and decisive leadership year to put the safety and security of the american people first by accepting the recommendation of the deputy attorney general to remove director comey as head of the fbi. the american people have to have confidence in the federal bureau of investigation. because of the action the deputy attorney general outlined to the president that were endorsed and agreed with by the attorney

general, the president made the right decision at the right time. now we look forward to finding that individual who will leave that agency and the outstanding men and women of the fbi back to a place where we move past the difficult politics of the last year that have swirled around director comey's leadership and we can move back to a place where every american can no the -- can know the fbi is able to do its job to enforce our laws and protect our nation. >> what about the dissatisfaction with the russia probe. vice pres. pence: let me be very clear. the president's decision to accept the recommendation of the deputy attorney general and the attorney general to remove director comey as the head of the fbi was based solely and exclusively on his commitment to the best interest of the american people and to ensuring

the fbi has the trust and confidence of the people of this nation. the president's leadership year i think represents the kind of strong leadership the american people expect. the american people expect the president to act on recommendations of those within the administration charged with oversight. in this case the deputy attorney general provides the oversight to the federal bureau of investigation. when he brought the recommendation to the president of the director of the fbi should be removed president trump provided strong and decisive leadership the american people have come to be accustomed from him and took the action necessary to remove rector comey. -- director comey. now the president is in the process of evaluating

individuals who will be able to fill that spot and leave the fbi -- lead the fbi and restore confidence of the american people. this was the right decision at the right time. >> considering the bipartisan concern, why not support an independent panel? vice pres. pence: the evidence, the facts that are in public today are very clear, the former director of national intelligence has said there is no evidence of collusion. the president and i remain confident the committees in the house and senate looking into every aspect of issues that arise out of the election will be will to do their work in an orderly way. the president was informed several times by the former director of the fbi he was not under investigation. the simple fact is director comey had lost the confidence of the american people. the support i heard from them is

of the senate today when i was by the senate chamber, support for the decision being expressed in this capitol building and around the country is reflective of the fact that it was time for a fresh start at the fbi. the president did as he is done in so many cases, he provided strong leadership. to act on the recommendation of the deputy attorney general. the american people welcome that in they know that as president trump is done so many times before, the president is going to take the time necessary to find an individual of great experience and integrity to leave the nation's law -- to lead the nation's law enforcement agency and i look forward to being a part of that process. >> did the president asked the attorney general to conduct a review of director comey? vice pres. pence: the new deputy

attorney general who was just worn in two weeks ago and -- sworn in two weeks ago and confirmed by the fbi came to work. he's a man of extraordinary independence and integrity and a reputation in both political parties of great character. sat down and made the recommendation for the fbi to be able to do its job it would need new leadership. he brought that recommendation to the president. the attorney general concurred with that recommendation. i am personally grateful that we have a president willing to provide the decisive and strong leadership to take the recommendation of the deputy attorney general to remove and fbi director who lost the confidence of the american people. let me be clear. we have some great men and women who serve in the federal bureau of investigation every day, who make and norma sacrifices for

-- enormous sacrifices for the people of this country. i'm confident that the president will go through a process and will choose an individual who will be able to leave the fbi -- lead the fbi not only back to credibility, to restore the trust and confidence in american people that lead the fbi to greater heights to ensure that it does its job enforcing our laws protecting our country. dewyze house considering replacements for fbi director james comey. -- the white house considering replacements. replacement could come from the six people. white house officials would not candidates toial replace james comey permanently but media reports seem to focus on six candidates. christie, milwaukee county

sheriff david clark, republican congressman trey gowdy who chaired the house select committee on benghazi, former new york police commissioner ray kelly. also acting fbi director angela mccabe and former fbi director john pistole who's the president of anderson university in indiana. deputy white house press secretary sarah huckabee sanders took questions on the james comey firing and said the president had lost confidence in mr. comey's ability to lead the law enforcement agency.