WASHINGTON — Christopher A. Wray, the F.B.I. director, defended his work force in an email on Monday after President Trump said on Twitter that the agency's standing was the "worst in History" and its reputation was in "Tatters."
In a message to the F.B.I.'s 35,000 agents and support staff that was provided to The New York Times, Mr. Wray said that he was "inspired by example after example of professionalism and dedication to justice demonstrated around the bureau. It is truly an honor to represent you."
He did not mention Mr. Trump by name. But Mr. Wray's remarks came one day after the president's latest bashing of the country's premier law enforcement agency. Mr. Trump said that Michael T. Flynn, his former national security adviser, who pleaded guilty to lying to the F.B.I., was treated unfairly by agents.
Mr. Trump compared Mr. Flynn's case to the federal investigation into Hillary Clinton's handling of classified information, in which she was not charged after being interviewed by the F.B.I.
The president's most recent comments angered F.B.I. personnel, who have been caught in a political maelstrom since the president fired James B. Comey, the bureau's former director, in May. Last year, Mr. Comey opened the highly charged investigation into whether any of Mr. Trump's associates colluded with the Russian government. Mr. Trump has called the inquiry a "witch hunt."
An F.B.I. spokesman declined to comment on Monday.
The F.B.I. had hoped that in dismissing Mr. Comey and choosing Mr. Wray to replace him, the president would stop targeting the bureau. But that was not the case.
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Mr. Wray, who has been on the job for about four months, told his employees to ignore any criticism and to continue to uphold the Constitution.
"We find ourselves under the microscope each and every day — and rightfully so. We do hard work for a living," he said, adding that the F.B.I. should "continue to keep focused on our critical mission."
The email concludes with one of his favorite maxims: "Keep calm and tackle hard."
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