Former FBI Director James Comey is under investigation after posting a photo on Instagram that some Trump supporters interpreted as a threat against President Donald Trump. The now-deleted image showed the number "8647" formed with seashells, accompanied by the caption: "Cool shell formation on my beach walk."
The number sparked online uproar, as "86" is slang in U.S. culture meaning to "eject" or even "kill," while "47" is a reference to Trump being the 47th U.S. president. Critics, including White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, accused Comey of promoting violence and calling for Trump's assassination.
Comey, who was fired by Trump in 2017 amid the Russia investigation, quickly removed the post. He clarified that he had assumed the number was a political message and had not realized it could be linked to violent connotations. “I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence,” Comey stated. “It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”
The U.S. Secret Service confirmed it was aware of the post and emphasized its commitment to investigating any potential threat to its protectees. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and current FBI Director Kash Patel also confirmed that their agencies are reviewing the matter and cooperating closely.
While Comey insists the post was harmless, federal authorities are taking the matter seriously amid heightened political tensions. The investigation remains ongoing as officials work to determine the intent and implications of the post.