Trump Accuses Ex-FBI Chief Comey of Posting Assassination Message with Coded Photo

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has accused ex-FBI Director James Comey of subtly calling for his assassination through a cryptic social media post. The controversy erupted after Comey shared a photo on Instagram on Thursday, May 15, showing seashells arranged in the shape of the numbers “86 47,” accompanied by the caption: “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.”

Trump and his allies interpreted the numbers as a veiled threat. The term “86” is slang for “to get rid of,” while “47” is believed to reference Trump’s position as the 47th U.S. president, should he win re-election. Trump, in an interview with Fox News host Bret Baier on Friday, May 16, claimed, “He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant … That meant ‘assassination.’”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service are reviewing the matter. “He’s calling for the assassination of the president,” Trump added, branding Comey “a dirty cop” and suggesting that Attorney General Pam Bondi should pursue charges.

Taylor Budowich, Trump’s deputy chief of staff, called the post “deeply concerning” and said the matter is being taken seriously. Donald Trump Jr. also reacted, stating on social media: “Just James Comey casually calling for my dad to be murdered. This is who the Dem-Media worships. Demented!!!!”

Comey has since removed the image and issued a clarification. “I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn’t realize folks associate those numbers with violence,” he wrote. “It never occurred to me, but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”