James Comey Deletes Instagram Post After “Threat to Trump” Claims

Who is James Comey and What Did He Post?

James Comey is the former Director of the FBI. On Thursday, May 15, 2025, he shared a photo on Instagram of seashells on a beach that spelled out the numbers "86 47." Many people, especially Trump supporters, believed this was a hidden message meant to say something bad about President Donald Trump, who is now the 47th president of the United States.

James Comey’s Instagram Sparks Controversy: “86 47” Photo Goes Viral

Comey wrote on Instagram

Why Are People Upset About “86 47”?

The number “86” is a slang term that can mean to remove or get rid of something or someone. The number “47” refers to Trump’s title as the 47th president. Together, some people thought "86 47" meant a secret way of saying "get rid of Trump," possibly even suggesting harm. Donald Trump Jr. posted online, accusing Comey of calling for his father’s murder. Others on social media joined in, saying the post was dangerous and violent.

What Did James Comey Say About the Post?

James Comey said he did not mean anything violent or harmful. He explained that he simply saw the shells on a beach and thought they were arranged in a political message, so he took a photo and shared it. After people said it looked like a threat, Comey took the post down and explained on Instagram that he never intended for it to be seen that way. He also said clearly:

“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.”

What Are Government Officials Saying?

Several Republican leaders reacted strongly. Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, said the Secret Service is now looking into the post to see if it was a real threat. She wrote:

“Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of @POTUSTrump.”

Another official, Tulsi Gabbard, who is now Director of National Intelligence, went even further. She said on Fox News that Comey should be put in jail and said he must have known what the numbers meant, especially since he used to lead the FBI. Gabbard said she was very worried about Trump’s safety.

What Is the FBI and Secret Service Doing?

The Secret Service, who protect the president, said in a statement that they take all possible threats seriously and are aware of the situation. They said they would not comment further for now.

Kash Patel, the current FBI Director, also spoke up. He said the FBI is in contact with the Secret Service and is ready to help them if needed. He called the post “concerning” but said it is up to the Secret Service to lead the investigation.

Why This Matters: Comey’s History With Trump

James Comey is a known critic of Donald Trump. He was fired by Trump in 2017 during Trump’s first time as president. Before that, Comey led FBI investigations into both Russian interference in the 2016 election and Hillary Clinton’s emails. Both cases were highly political and led to many arguments, but neither Clinton nor Trump was charged.

After he was fired, Trump called Comey a “grandstander” and “showboat.” Comey later became more vocal about his views against Trump and the Republican Party.

Highlight:

James Comey posted a photo on Instagram showing seashells that said “86 47.”
People said it was a secret message to harm President Donald Trump, who is the 47th president.
Comey said he did not mean any harm and deleted the post once people got upset.
Trump’s supporters, like Donald Trump Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard, said Comey should be punished or even jailed.
The Secret Service and FBI are now checking if the post was a real threat.
Comey was fired by Trump in 2017 and has been a strong critic of him since then.