Donald Trump recently accused James Comey, the former FBI director, of hinting at a call for assassination in a social media post that featured beach shells arranged in a specific formation. The post composed of shells spelling out the number 8647, captioned “Cool Shell Formation on My Beach Walk,” drew Trump’s ire as he interpreted it as a signal to his supporters to target the president. The Secret Service has initiated an investigation into the matter.
Comey claimed the numbers are arbitrary and insisted he did not see any intent of violence in them, stating, “It never happened to me.” In slang terms, 86 often denotes getting rid of something, while 47 might be seen as representing Trump, being the 47th president.
Later on Friday, officials from the Secret Service, which operates under the Department of Homeland Security, interviewed Comey as part of their ongoing inquiry. Confirming this on social media, they indicated seriousness in investigating potential threats.
Trump, meanwhile, asserted that Comey was “devastated” because many agree with his political views. He further claimed that Comey was calling for “the assassination of the president.” Comey, who was fired by Trump in 2017 amid the Russia investigation, eventually deleted the post once it gained attention for its alleged threats.
This situation adds to a backdrop of heightened political rhetoric, following two previous assassination attempts against Trump. Interestingly, the number 86 is sometimes used by Republicans in reference to Biden, as seen on certain merchandise.
Political language has drawn criticism in the past. For example, Biden acknowledged it was a mistake to suggest putting Trump “in the Bullseye” shortly before an assassination attempt occurred. Still, Trump has been known to use equally heated phrases himself.
The Secret Service confirmed that it was aware of the incident and would proceed with caution in their investigation but did not elaborate further. Comey expressed surprise that people connected the numbers to violence but stated he removed the post due to his opposition to any violent actions.
This led to considerable backlash, with various political figures weighing in. Homeland Security Director Christie Noem labeled the comments from Comey as disgraceful. Kash Patel, the FBI director, stated his agency would support the Secret Service’s efforts regarding this investigation.
Anthony Guglielmi, representing the Presidential Security Bureau, emphasized the seriousness of the rhetoric and stated they are actively looking into what could be perceived as a threat. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard echoed skepticism regarding Comey’s explanation, portraying his words as a call to violence against the president.
This exchange occurs as Comey is set to release a new book, the third in a fictional series featuring a lawyer named Nora Carleton. The series revolves around a conspiracy involving U.S. lawyers and accusations tied to far-right media, addressing how such narratives can harm societal structures.
