Ex-FBI Director James Comey is facing sharp criticism and a federal investigation after posting a photo on Instagram that many say suggests violence or even assassination against President Donald Trump, the current 47th president of the United States.
The photo, shared on Thursday, showed seashells on a beach arranged to read “86 47.” The caption read: “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.” Although Comey later deleted the post and denied any violent intent, critics accused him of sharing a coded call to harm the President.
Comey later addressed the backlash in a follow-up Instagram post. “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,” he wrote.
The phrase “86” is old American slang dating back to the 1930s, commonly used in restaurants to mean “remove” or “get rid of.” Combined with “47,” a reference to Trump’s current position as the 47th President, critics argue the phrase amounted to a message calling for Trump’s removal—or worse.
Federal agencies quickly responded. The Department of Homeland Security and the US Secret Service confirmed Thursday that they are investigating the matter. FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau would cooperate fully with the inquiry.
The hashtag #8647 has been circulating on platforms like TikTok since at least March, often used by Trump critics as a subtle way of expressing opposition or calls for his political removal.
AI tool Grok, on the social platform X, described the combination as “a sneaky way of saying ‘get rid of Trump,’” while noting the numbers do not inherently suggest assassination.
Just James Comey causally calling for my dad to be murdered.
This is who the Dem-Media worships. Demented!!!! pic.twitter.com/4LUK6crHAT
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 15, 2025
Still, the backlash was swift. Donald Trump Jr. called the post “demented,” claiming Comey “casually called for [his] dad to be murdered.”
On Fox News, National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard dismissed Comey’s defense, saying he should be jailed. Comey “should be held accountable and put behind bars for this,” she said.
Republican Congressman Andy Ogles sent a letter to US intelligence officials urging a formal investigation. He asked whether Comey may have broken federal laws related to threatening the President or sharing threatening communication across state lines.
Ogles also demanded confirmation on whether Comey still has access to classified information due to his past position.
“If Comey broke the law, he shouldn’t get a pass. He should be in handcuffs,” Ogles wrote on X.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the matter is already under review. “Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of @POTUS Trump. DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately,” she wrote.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair said the post could be interpreted as a signal to enemies abroad to harm the President while he travels in the Middle East. He called on media outlets and Democrats to condemn the post, warning that silence would be seen as complicity.
