Former FBI director Comey blasted over cryptic post on Trump
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Former FBI Director James Comey in New York City in 2023. Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
The U.S. Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security are investigating former FBI Director James Comey's Instagram post of shells arranged on a beach that read "8647," DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday evening.
Why it matters: "86" is a slang term that can mean "to get rid of" and some use it to mean to kill — something President Trump's elder son, Donald Trump Jr., pointed to on X as he shared a screenshot of Comey's since-deleted post with the comment, "Just James Comey causally calling for my dad to be murdered."
Driving the news: Comey wrote in the post accompanying the photo to his 130,000 Instagram followers: "Cool shell formation on my beach walk."
- A trend has emerged of posting the number "86" alongside "47," reflecting Trump's current term in the historical number of U.S. presidents as a means of resistance, the Detroit Free Press noted.
- Comey said in an updated post he assumed the shells were "a political message," but "didn't realize some folks associate those numbers with violence."
What's happening: "Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination" of Trump, Noem said on X Thursday evening.
- "DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately."
- USSS spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said the Secret Service "vigorously investigates anything that can be taken as a potential threat against our protectees."
- She added: "We take this responsibility very seriously and we are aware of the social media posts in question. Beyond that, we do not comment on protective intelligence matters."
Meanwhile, FBI Director Kash Patel said on X the Bureau is aware of Comey's post and in communication with the USSS and its director Sean Curran.
- "Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support," he added.
Thought bubble, via Axios' Tal Axelrod: The controversy, unsurprisingly, consumed MAGA diehards beyond top administration officials, with social media posts lamenting "Democrat political violence."
- It seemed tailor-made to provoke Trump's movement, igniting several of its core motivators: frustration with a "deep state" that's out to get the president; a back-against-the-wall mentality that broader MAGA and its values are under threat; and the belief that violence by liberals is a true threat but undercovered after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Of note: Comey was appointed FBI director by former President Obama, but he was a registered Republican for years.
- He told ABC News in 2018, a year after Trump fired him as FBI chief, "the Republican Party has left me and many others."
What they're saying: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said on Fox News Thursday she's "very concerned for the president's life," noting "we've already seen assassination attempts."
- She added that "Comey, in my view, should be held accountable and put behind bars for this."
- Taylor Budowich, White House deputy chief of staff and Cabinet secretary, on X called Comey's post "deeply concerning to all of us" and said it was being taken seriously.
- "While President Trump is currently on an international trip to the Middle East, the former FBI Director puts out what can clearly be interpreted as 'a hit' on the sitting President of the United States —a message etched in the sand," Budowich said.
- Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) wrote on X, "Arrest Comey."
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
