Comey Under Scrutiny for Controversial Instagram Post
Former FBI Director James Comey sparked controversy after posting an Instagram photo of seashells arranged to resemble the numbers “86 47,” captioned “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.” The post led to backlash from Trump allies, who interpreted the numbers as a threat against President Donald Trump.

What Does ‘86 47’ Mean?
In American slang, “86” can mean to reject or eliminate—commonly used in bars and, more recently, as slang for “to kill,” though Merriam-Webster notes this violent interpretation is rare. The number “47” is believed to refer to Trump, the 47th president. Comey later admitted the numbers had a “political message,” but said, “I had no idea that some people connected those figures to violence. I never thought of it, but I’m against all forms of violence, so I removed the post.”

Republican Response
Trump and his allies reacted strongly. Donald Trump Jr. accused Comey of “casually calling for my dad to be murdered.” Trump told Fox News, “He understood exactly what that meant. A child understands that it meant assassination.” White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich claimed the post was “clearly… a hit on the sitting president.”

Secret Service Investigation
The U.S. Secret Service interviewed Comey about the post. While Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed an “ongoing investigation,” she gave no details on further action. Another White House official, James Blair, called the post a “Clarion Call (…) to terrorists & hostile regimes to kill the President of the United States as he travels in the Middle East.”