On May 15, 2025, a social media post by former FBI Director James Comey sparked a firestorm of controversy, leading to an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security. The now-deleted Instagram post, which featured a photo of seashells arranged to form the numbers “8647” with the caption “Cool shell formation on my beach walk,” was interpreted by some Trump administration officials and supporters as a veiled threat against President Donald Trump, the 47th president of the United States. The incident has reignited tensions between Comey and Trump, who have a long history of public disputes. Here’s what happened, why it matters, and what could come next.
The Controversial Post and Its Immediate Fallout
The controversy began when Comey, who served as FBI Director from 2013 until his dismissal by Trump in 2017, shared the seashell photo on Instagram. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the term “86” is slang that can mean “to reject,” “to get rid of,” or, in more recent usage, “to kill.” Since Trump is the 47th president, many interpreted the numbers “8647” as a coded message suggesting harm to the president. The post quickly drew sharp criticism from Trump allies, including high-ranking administration officials.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was among the first to publicly condemn the post, writing on X, “Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of @POTUS Trump. DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately.” White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich echoed this sentiment, calling the post “a hit on the sitting president of the United States” and labeling it “deeply concerning.” Donald Trump Jr. also weighed in, accusing Comey of “casually calling for my dad to be murdered.”
Comey swiftly deleted the post and issued a follow-up statement on Instagram, denying any violent intent. “I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message,” he wrote. “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.” Despite his explanation, the backlash continued, with some Republicans calling for his arrest and others demanding further investigation.
Secret Service Steps In
The U.S. Secret Service, responsible for protecting the president, took the matter seriously and launched an investigation. On May 16, 2025, Secret Service agents interviewed Comey at their Washington, D.C. field office for approximately 90 minutes. Homeland Security Secretary Noem confirmed the interview in a post on X, stating, “Today, federal agents from @SecretService interviewed disgraced former FBI Director Comey regarding a social media post calling for the assassination of President Trump. I will continue to take all measures necessary to ensure the protection of @POTUS Trump. This is an ongoing investigation.”
Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for the Secret Service, emphasized the agency’s commitment to investigating potential threats. “We vigorously investigate anything that can be taken as a potential threat against our protectees,” he said in a statement. “We are aware of the social media posts by the former FBI Director and we take rhetoric like this very seriously.” Current FBI Director Kash Patel also pledged support, stating that the FBI was in communication with the Secret Service and would provide “all necessary support” for the investigation.
The timing of the post heightened concerns, as President Trump was on a four-day trip to the Middle East at the time. 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.” The fact that Trump survived two assassination attempts during his 2024 campaign—one in July at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he was grazed by a bullet, and another in September at his Florida golf course—added urgency to the investigation.
Legal Experts Question the Threat
While the Trump administration and its supporters labeled the post as a clear threat, legal experts have raised doubts about whether it meets the legal threshold for a prosecutable offense. A former federal prosecutor, speaking anonymously to NBC News, explained that the federal statute banning death threats against the president requires an individual to “knowingly and willingly” make an explicit threat to “take the life of, to kidnap, or to inflict bodily harm.” The prosecutor argued that Comey’s post “does not come close to meeting that legal threshold,” adding, “He didn’t commit a crime. He gave his enemies an opening.”
The term “86” has a long history in American slang, originating in the 1930s at soda counters to mean an item was sold out. It later expanded to mean refusing service or ejecting someone, such as a disruptive bar patron. While Merriam-Webster notes that “86” has recently been used to mean “to kill,” it clarifies that this usage is relatively new and not widely adopted. The numbers “8647” have also appeared in political contexts before, with both Republicans and Democrats using similar slogans. For example, T-shirts reading “8646” were sold during Joe Biden’s presidency, referencing the 46th president, and former Representative Matt Gaetz used “86” to celebrate the ousting of Republican leaders in 2024.
A History of Tension Between Comey and Trump
The controversy is the latest chapter in a long-standing feud between Comey and Trump. As FBI Director, Comey oversaw the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server, which drew criticism from both parties during the 2016 election. He also led the FBI’s probe into alleged ties between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russian interference, a decision that strained their relationship further. In May 2017, Trump fired Comey, citing his handling of the Clinton investigation, though many speculated the Russia probe played a role.
Comey later became a vocal critic of Trump, writing a memoir that detailed their interactions, including an alleged request from Trump for a pledge of loyalty, which Comey refused. Trump has repeatedly called Comey a “dirty cop” and accused him of treason, while Comey has described Trump as “morally unfit” for office. This history has fueled Republican outrage over the recent post, with figures like Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard calling for Comey to be jailed, claiming he “issued a hit” on the president.
Political Speech or Dangerous Rhetoric?
The incident has sparked broader debates about political speech and the boundaries of acceptable rhetoric. Some liberal commentators have pointed out that Republicans did not object when similar slogans, like “8646,” were directed at Biden. They argue that the outrage over Comey’s post is selective and meant to silence Trump’s critics. Others, including former FBI special agent Bobby Chacon, emphasized the need for public figures to be cautious in today’s charged political climate. “Public figures using these terms have to be cognizant of the current political climate, and the context that some of their followers may interpret from their comments,” Chacon told PBS News.
The Trump administration’s response also raises questions about free speech. A Washington Post report noted that since retaking the White House, the administration has targeted various groups, including students and elected officials, for speech traditionally protected by the First Amendment. Legal analysts suggest that the focus on Comey’s post may be an attempt to intimidate critics, though the Secret Service’s investigation is standard protocol for perceived threats against the president.
What Happens Next?
As of May 21, 2025, the investigation into Comey’s post remains ongoing, with no charges filed. Trump, in a Fox News interview, deflected questions about what should happen to Comey, saying the decision would be left to Attorney General Pam Bondi and other officials. “If he had a clean history, I could understand if there was leniency, but I’m going to let them make that decision,” Trump said, referencing Comey’s past controversies.
For now, Comey has returned to his private life, recently publishing FDR Drive, the third book in his crime novel series. Whether the investigation will lead to further action remains unclear, but the incident has once again thrust Comey and Trump into the spotlight, reigniting debates about political rhetoric, free speech, and the limits of public discourse in a polarized nation.
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