Former FBI chief accused of calling for Trump’s assassination
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Former FBI Director James Comey faces backlash after posting a photo interpreted as a call for Trump's assassination.
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Then-FBI Director James Comey testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington on February 25, 2016. (AP)
Former FBI Director James Comey came under fire on Thursday after posting a cryptic photo on Instagram that some observers claim was an indirect call for the assassination of US President Donald Trump.
The image, shared on Thursday, showed seashells arranged to read “86 47”, with the caption: “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.”
The number "86" is commonly used as slang for getting rid of something or someone, while "47" has been interpreted as a reference to Trump, who was elected as the 47th president of the United States.
The backlash quickly escalated as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem responded publicly, stating on X, “Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of @POTUS Trump."
Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of @POTUS Trump.
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) May 15, 2025
DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately.
Although Comey deleted the photo shortly after posting it, the image had already been widely circulated across social media platforms.
In turn, Donald Trump Jr. condemned the post, writing on X:
“Just James Comey casually calling for my dad to be murdered. This is who the Dem-Media worships. Demented!!!!”
James Comey is vile. https://t.co/wdwPUPpz8K
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 15, 2025
Dan Scavino, Trump’s former deputy chief of staff, also weighed in, accusing Comey of inciting violence, “While he’ll claim not to know what 86 47 means, there’s no doubt that the former disgraced FBI Dir. knows exactly what he’s doing, with a plea to bad actors/terrorists to assassinate the POTUS while traveling internationally. Don’t let him get away with it!!”
In a follow-up statement shared on Instagram, Comey denied any intent to promote violence and said the image was misinterpreted.
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"Cool shell formation," Comey commented before deleting the post. (Social media)
“I posted a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. 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 controversy has reignited political tensions, with Trump supporters viewing the post as a direct threat, while others argue the interpretation may have been blown out of proportion.
