President Trump has fired the boss of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), James Comey. It is the second time in US history an FBI boss has been fired. Mr Comey thought the news of his firing was a prank and he didn't believe it. He was talking to FBI agents in a field office in Los Angeles when he saw a news program reporting on President Trump firing him. FBI staff then confirmed to him that he had been fired. The White House delivered a letter to Mr Comey about his firing, but Comey was not in his office in Washington to receive it.
The sacking is a huge political story in the USA. Many newspapers are saying Mr Comey was fired because he was investigating President Trump's alleged links to Russia. Journalists are saying the White House is covering up a scandal concerning President Trump and Russia. The White House denied this. Officials said that Comey was sacked because of his mishandling of investigations into Hillary Clinton's e-mails. They said this meant he couldn't effectively lead the FBI. President Trump said it was time for a "new beginning" at the FBI – the USA's "crown jewel of law enforcement".