Former FBI Director James Comey was interviewed this week by the U.S. Secret Service after posting an Instagram photo that some supporters of President Donald Trump interpreted as a veiled threat.
The post, shared earlier in May, showed a group of seashells arranged to form the number “8647” with the caption: “Cool shell formation from my beach walk.” While seemingly innocent to most, the number 86 is widely known in American slang to mean “to get rid of” or “eliminate,” and 47 is a reference to Trump’s position as the 47th President of the United States.
According to multiple sources, the Secret Service took the post seriously and requested a voluntary interview with Comey, which he attended in Washington, D.C. He reportedly denied any intent to incite violence and said the image was misinterpreted.
“I saw those numbers and thought they were politically ironic, not dangerous,” Comey reportedly told investigators.
The incident comes at a time of elevated political tension and renewed scrutiny of online speech, particularly when it involves figures in proximity to former or current government power.
President Trump commented on the situation during a live Fox News interview, stating:
“He knew exactly what it meant. Everybody knows. Even a child knows what 86 means—it means kill.”
Trump, who fired Comey as FBI Director in 2017, accused his former opponent of “hiding behind symbolism” and called for further investigation.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem confirmed the probe, saying, “Any perceived threat to the president—coded or direct—is treated with full seriousness.”
Comey Deletes the Post, Issues Clarification
Shortly after media attention escalated, Comey deleted the Instagram post and issued a public statement:
“It never occurred to me that anyone would interpret the numbers as a threat. I completely oppose violence in any form, and I regret that the post caused alarm.”
No formal charges have been filed, and according to a Justice Department spokesperson, Attorney General Pam Bondi is reviewing the case before making a determination about possible legal action.
The post has ignited fierce debate online and across news outlets. Some conservative commentators have accused Comey of inciting violence through plausible deniability, while his defenders say the reaction is politically motivated and blown out of proportion.
