The Secret Service is investigating after ex-FBI Director James Comey posted an Instagram photo of seashells arranged to show the numbers “86 47,” a message White House officials swiftly condemned as an attempt to put out a “hit” against the 47th president.
Comey later deleted the post after online backlash from government officials, lawmakers and President Donald Trump’s son. Trump has faced two assassination attempts in the past year, one of which resulted in him being shot and a bystander being killed.
The post including the alleged “hit” showed the numbers in question etched into the sand at a beach using seashells. “Cool shell formation on my beach walk…,” Comey captioned the post Thursday.
While to some people the numbers may appear innocuous, “86” is frequently used as a call sign for murdering or getting rid of someone, while “47” has been interpreted as denoting the 47th president of the United States.
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Former FBI Director James Comey and President Donald Trump (AP)
After backlash on social media over the post, including from at least one lawmaker who called for Comey to be arrested, the ex-FBI chief deleted the Instagram post and posted a message addressing it.
“I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message,” the subsequent post from Comey said. “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.”
Shortly after Comey removed the post, Fox News Digital learned from a source in the Secret Service that the agency was aware of the matter and will be sending agents to investigate and interview Comey.
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The FBI, where Comey used to work before he was fired by Trump during his first term, had no comment on the matter, but it was also apparent that people at the top levels of the agency were aware of the post.
Trump’s new FBI director, Kash Patel, acknowledged on X that agency personnel were “aware” of Comey’s post in his own statement shared on X.
“We are in communication with the Secret Service and Director Curran,” Patel said. “Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support.”
Former FBI Director James Comey speaks onstage with MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace May 30, 2023, in New York City. (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
The ex-FBI chief’s social media slip-up hearkens back to an incident in February 2020 involving comedian and actor John Mulaney. During an opening monologue on Saturday Night Live, Mulaney made a joke referencing Trump and the assassination of Roman dictator Julius Ceasar, prompting an investigation by the FBI.
“Another thing that happened under Julius Caesar, he was such a powerful maniac that all the senators grabbed knives, and they stabbed him to death. That would be an interesting thing if we brought that back now,” Mulaney said, in part, to laughter from the live SNL audience.
In response to Comey’s post, the White House swiftly condemned Comey’s actions, and White House deputy chief of staff and Cabinet Secretary Taylor Budowich called the move “deeply concerning.”
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn. (Alex Wong)
“While President Trump is currently on an international trip to the Middle East, the former FBI Director puts out what can clearly be interpreted as ‘a hit’ on the sitting President of the United States — a message etched in the sand,” Budowich wrote on X. “This is deeply concerning to all of us and is being taken seriously.”
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., who was endorsed by Trump in 2024, went a step further and called for Comey to be arrested for his controversial post.
