This morning, President Donald Trump kicked off his day by calling former FBI Director James Comey—among other U.S. officials—a “political hack.” The dig came after Trump was asked about meeting recently with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump said that during the meeting, he again asked Putin about Russian hacking, and that he found Putin’s denial of meddling in the 2016 election to be more convincing than that of Comey’s assertion that Russia was actively involved.
To which, Comey, who recently revealed himself on Twitter, had some choice words.
“If you want truth to go round the world you must hire an express train to pull it; but if you want a lie to go round the world, it will fly; it is light as a feather and a breath will carry it.” Rev. Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1855). pic.twitter.com/YZf4q88wyi
— James Comey (@Comey) November 11, 2017
Comey appears to be enjoying a scenic hike, while also shading the president, saying it is much harder to make people believe than truth than a lie, the lie here being Putin’s denials and Trump’s assertions that Moscow did not try to sway the 2016 election.
The quote comes from an influential 19th century British Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon, a highly respected Englishman who led the New Park Street Chapel in London for nearly 40 years.
Naturally, this being Twitter, everyone dispensed with the nuance and screamed “SUBTWEET.”
folks, we’ve got a subtweet https://t.co/3HvJZWCOVb
— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) November 11, 2017
Subtweet! https://t.co/v4Z8aLm4O6
— Allahpundit (@allahpundit) November 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/ChrisCJackson/status/929372348662329344
Of course, this also being Twitter, people fired right back at Comey.
https://twitter.com/Spitfirehill/status/929380385108226050
https://twitter.com/Stella_Basham/status/929385098776121344
Previously, Comey tweeted about enjoying a Cosmopolitan and some onion rings with his wife on her birthday.
This is James Comey’s second subtweet.