WASHINGTON — Former FBI Director James Comey posted a photo on Instagram showing shells arranged on a beach to form the numbers “8647.” The post has sparked controversy and an investigation due to the potential implications of the numbers “86” (a slang term meaning to kill) and “47” (a reference to Donald Trump being the 47th president), prompting accusations of a threat of assassination.
The numbers “86” and “47”:
- • “86”: In slang, “86” can mean “to take away” or “to remove,” and in some contexts, it can even imply violence or death.
- • “47”: This number refers to President Trump, as he is the 47th President of the United States if Grover Cleveland is counted twice (Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms).
On Thursday, Comey posted the image of the shell formation with the comment: “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.” He provided no further context or explanation for the shells’ arrangement.
Public reaction and interpretation
- • Trump Supporters: Many supporters of President Trump interpreted the post as a call to violence or murder. This interpretation gained traction after Donald Trump Jr. shared a screenshot of the post on X (formerly Twitter), commenting, “Just James Comey casually calling for the murder of my dad.”
- • Resistance movement: Some people associated the numbers “86” and “47” with a broader political message, reflecting resistance to President Trump’s policies and actions.
After the backlash, Comey deleted the post and issued a subsequent statement. He acknowledged that he had assumed the shells were a political message, but hadn’t realized that some people might associate those numbers with violence.
Comey explicitly stated that he is against any type of violence and apologized for the unintended interpretation of his message.
WOW!
Former FBI Director James Comey @Comey just posted this on his Instagram 2 hours ago, with the caption “cool shell formation on my beach walk”. It’s a pic of shells in the form of “86 47”.
This is a call for the assassination of President Trump by the former FBI Director! pic.twitter.com/Q4qIBbvvmt
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) May 15, 2025Federal Investigation
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that the U.S. Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security are investigating the post. Noem characterized the post as a call for the assassination of President Trump.
A Secret Service spokesperson confirmed that the agency “diligently investigates anything that could be viewed as a potential threat to our protected individuals.” They emphasized their commitment to protecting the security of the president and other high-profile individuals.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the FBI is aware of Comey’s post and is in communication with the Secret Service. The FBI will provide necessary support, maintaining primary jurisdiction with the Secret Service.
We are aware of the recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey, directed at President Trump. We are in communication with the Secret Service and Director Curran. Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support.
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) May 15, 2025Taylor Budowich, White House deputy chief of staff and Cabinet secretary, described Comey’s post as “deeply troubling” and emphasized that he was taking it seriously.
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) called for Comey’s arrest in a tweet, highlighting the intense political divide surrounding the incident.
By the way, Comey has a history of publicly criticizing President Trump, including his firing as FBI director in 2017. He has endorsed Democratic candidates including Joe Biden in the 2020 election and Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
James Comey’s cryptic Instagram post has led to an investigation by federal authorities, including the U.S. Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security.
Although Comey clarified that he did not intend to incite violence, the perception of his post as a call for the assassination of President Trump has raised serious debate.