Former FBI Director James Comey Under Scrutiny for Instagram Post Interpreted as Threat Against Donald Trump

former FBI Director James Comey

Federal law enforcement officials are investigating a now-deleted social media post by former FBI Director James Comey that displayed the number "8647" — a message some Trump supporters allege was a veiled threat against former President Donald Trump.

Comey, who was dismissed by Trump in 2017 during an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, posted an image on Instagram on May 15 showing seashells arranged to form the number 8647. The caption read, “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.” The post was later removed after backlash, particularly from Trump supporters who interpreted the number as a coded call for violence.

In American slang, the number “86” can mean to eject or eliminate someone, particularly in bar or restaurant settings, and “47” is widely used as shorthand for Donald Trump, who is seeking to become the 47th president. This combination led some supporters of Trump to suggest that Comey’s post alluded to a desire to “eliminate” or assassinate Trump.

Comey denied any such intent and responded to the controversy by stating: “I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me, but I oppose violence of any kind, so I took the post down.”

The U.S. Secret Service, which provides protection for the former president, confirmed it was aware of the post and is taking the matter seriously. “The Secret Service vigorously investigates anything that can be taken as a potential threat against our protectees,” said spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi. “We do not comment on protective intelligence matters.”

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that DHS and the Secret Service are conducting an investigation and will respond appropriately. FBI Director Kash Patel also confirmed that the agency is in communication with the Secret Service and will support any investigation as needed.

Some officials and political figures were more direct in their interpretation. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino accused Comey of promoting violence and characterized the post as a veiled call to assassinate Trump.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary acknowledges that “86” can sometimes mean “to kill,” although it notes the definition is relatively recent and uncommon.

Comey was removed as FBI Director by Trump in May 2017 while overseeing an investigation into possible collusion between Trump's campaign and Russian operatives during the 2016 election. His firing became a central event in the political tensions that followed, including the subsequent appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

As of now, no charges have been filed, and Comey has not commented further. The investigation remains ongoing.