Ex-FBI Director Posts 'Kill Trump' Code — Then Deletes It

James Comey. Photo courtesy of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Public domain.

James Comey may have just turned a beach stroll into a national security scandal. The former FBI director posted a photo of seashells spelling out "8647" — and in the eyes of Trump's allies, that wasn't just an innocent seaside snap. They saw it as a disturbing call to "eliminate" the 47th president — Donald J. Trump — with "86" being slang for murder, according to some. Comey deleted the post, claiming ignorance of the meaning. But with federal agencies now circling and the Secret Service involved, the damage is already done.

The fallout has been explosive, with high-profile Trump supporters accusing Comey of sending a coded message advocating assassination. In a political climate still reeling from two recent attempts on President Trump's life, even a cryptic Instagram^® post can trigger a full-blown federal investigation.

The Post That Lit the Match

James Comey reportedly posted an image on Instagram showing four numbers — "8647" — formed with white seashells arranged on the sand. The caption read, "Cool shell formation on my beach walk," according to the Intelligencer.

That post might have gone unnoticed — if not for what those numbers mean to Trump's base.

According to Webster's Dictionary, in American slang "86" is often used to mean "to get rid of" — which, in this context, has been interpreted by some to reference "eliminating" Trump, as reported by the New York Post. The term originated in the restaurant industry but has since taken on darker implications. Meanwhile, "47" could refer to Donald Trump, who is now serving as the 47th president of the United States. Together, the numbers "8647" were quickly interpreted as a threat: "kill 47" — or more directly, "kill Trump."

Comey Responds — But the Blowback Intensifies

After swift outrage, Comey took the photo down and said, "I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn't realize folks associate those numbers with violence," according to the New York Post.

But Trump and his inner circle weren't buying it. President Trump said in an interview that Comey "knew exactly what that meant," adding that even a "child" would recognize the numbers as a reference to assassination, as reported by the New York Post.

Don Jr. also reacted online, saying "Just James Comey casually calling for my dad to be murdered. This is who the Dem-Media worships. Demented!!!!" as reported by the New York Post. The outrage was amplified across social media and picked up by conservative commentators, who labeled it an intentional coded message.

Secret Service, DHS, and FBI Now Involved

The Secret Service confirmed it was aware of the post and emphasized that they take all rhetoric that could be interpreted as a threat very seriously — especially when it involves a protectee like the sitting president. Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said, "The Secret Service vigorously investigates anything that can be taken as a potential threat against our protectees. We are aware of the social media posts by the former FBI director and we take rhetoric like this very seriously. Beyond that, we do not comment on protective intelligence matters," as reported by Reuters.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem went further, stating that her department and the Secret Service were actively investigating the post and would "respond appropriately," as reported by Reuters.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the agency is coordinating with the Secret Service, noting that while jurisdiction lies with the Secret Service, the FBI "will provide all necessary support," according to Reuters.

Comey's History With Trump: A Long-Simmering Feud

The incident reopens wounds from one of the most infamous Washington feuds in recent history. Trump fired Comey in 2017 while he was overseeing the FBI investigation into the Trump campaign's alleged ties to Russian election interference. Since then, Comey has often been at the center of conservative outrage — and this latest post has only reinforced the belief among Trump allies that he remains a hostile actor.

Comey insists he opposes violence of any kind and has described the controversy as a misunderstanding — but that hasn't stopped political leaders from demanding consequences.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said in a Fox News interview, "We've already seen assassination attempts. I'm very concerned for his (Trump's) life," as reported by the Intelligencer. "And James Comey, in my view, should be held accountable and put behind bars for this."

The Broader Context: Real Violence and Real Threats

This firestorm comes less than a year after two serious assassination attempts on President Trump. In July 2024, a shooter at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, fired a bullet that narrowly missed Trump's head, grazing his ear. Just weeks later, a Florida man with a gun waited over 12 hours on Trump's golf course in Palm Beach before being discovered and arrested.

Given that history, it's not surprising that Trump's allies are hypersensitive to perceived threats — especially from someone once in charge of protecting national security.

Politics, Optics, and What Comes Next

So far, Comey has not been charged with any crime. Investigations are ongoing, and both DHS and the Secret Service continue to review the situation. Legally, it's unclear whether a post like this rises to the level of criminal intent — but politically, the impact is already massive.

What some consider a misjudged Instagram post, others see as a dangerous signal from a former top lawman. Whether Comey will face any formal consequences remains to be seen. But one thing is certain — in an America still healing from real violence and political division, even seashells can ignite a firestorm.

References: US officials looking into former FBI chief Comey's '8647' post about Trump | Trump says ex-FBI Director James Comey's '86 47' post called for his 'assassination' | James Comey Under Investigation for Seashell 'Threat' to Trump | eighty-six