Former FBI Director James Comey said Wednesday he regretted including a paragraph about President Donald Trump's physical appearance in his new book, saying it's been a way for critics to attack the book.
Comey is in the midst of a wide media tour to promote A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership, which includes his interactions with Trump before being fired last May.
Critics have charged Comey appears petty with his passages noting Trump's hand size, possible self-tanning and hair when they first met. However, he spoke about them during his interview Sunday night with ABC host George Stephanopoulos, including noting Trump appeared shorter than he expected.
"The View" co-host Sara Haines said he understood Comey wanted to set the stage for the reader with his book, but she asked if it was worth it at the possible expense of his credibility.
"It's a Trump game to talk about those things," she said. "That's what he does."
"I think you're right," Comey said. "If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't put that paragraph in, even though—just because it gave people a handhold who hadn't read the book to attack the book. I just want people to read the book, so it can be useful to them."
He noted he also provided a graphic physical description of his first boss at a grocery store, saying he wasn't trying to pick on Trump.
"I wasn't making fun of his hands," Comey said.
"People have seized onto that as a distraction, so I'm answering honestly, if I had it to do over again, I would tear that paragraph out," he added.