The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Secret Service are investigating a now-deleted Instagram post by former FBI Director James Comey, which some U.S. officials interpreted as a call for the assassination of President Donald Trump. In the post, Comey shared a photo of a beach shell formation resembling the numbers “8647,” which sparked controversy as “eighty-six” can slangily mean “to get rid of.” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem condemned the post, stating that it appeared to be a direct threat against Trump, the sitting president.
The Secret Service confirmed its commitment to investigating any potential threats against protectees, with spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi stating they take such rhetoric seriously. Following the incident, White House officials, including deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich, characterized Comey’s post as troubling and called for serious attention to its implications. Donald Trump Jr. also voiced concern, suggesting that Comey was indirectly calling for harm against his father.
Comey denied any malicious intent behind the post and expressed surprise at the violent connotation some perceived. He stated he opposes violence and decided to delete the post after realizing it could be misinterpreted. Some Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Tim Burchett and Trump’s former campaign manager Chris LaCivita, called for extreme measures against Comey, including arrest and a home raid.
Comey was previously fired by Trump in 2017 during an investigation into potential Russian interference in the 2016 election, a move linked by many to Comey’s handling of investigations, including one involving Hillary Clinton’s email practices.
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