Former FBI Director James Comey is under investigation by the United States Secret Service following a now-deleted Instagram post featuring the numbers “86 47,” a message widely interpreted as a veiled threat against the 47th US president Donald Trump.
Comey shared an image on Thursday showing the numbers “86 47” arranged in seashells on a beach, accompanied by the caption: “Cool shell formation on my beach walk…”.
While the numbers may appear harmless, the number “86” is colloquially used in American slang to mean “eliminate,” and “47” has been linked to Trump, the 47th president.
The Secret Service confirmed awareness of the post and, according to sources reported first by American media, is expected to interview Comey.
The FBI, which Comey once led before being dismissed by Trump in 2017, declined to comment, though officials are said to be monitoring the situation.
FBI Director Kash Patel noted on X that the bureau is supporting the Secret Service investigation.
We are aware of the recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey, directed at President Trump. We are in communication with the Secret Service and Director Curran. Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support.
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) May 15, 2025
Comey deleted the photo following public backlash 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 realise some folks associate those numbers with violence… I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”
Critics, including Republican lawmaker Tim Burchett of Tennessee, have called for Comey’s arrest, while others have drawn comparisons to a 2020 incident involving comedian John Mulaney, who faced an FBI inquiry after a televised joke referencing Julius Caesar.
As of early Friday morning, no charges have been filed.
The incident adds to ongoing political tensions in the US, particularly in the wake of last year's assassination attempts against Trump, one of which resulted in his injury and the death of a bystander.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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