Comey Discusses Controversial Instagram Post on “The Late Show”
Former FBI director James Comey talked about the reasoning behind his contentious “86 47” Instagram post directed at President Donald Trump during his appearance on “Late Show.” He shared that while walking on the beach with his wife, Patrice, they noticed a “smart political message.” Patrice suggested taking a picture of the shells to share online.
Comey’s photo displayed the numeral arrangement “86 47,” which led to quick backlash from White House officials and others online. Talking with host Stephen Colbert, Comey recounted how Patrice questioned why anyone would “put an address in the sand” or consider any other interpretations about the intended message.
In response to the uproar, Comey deleted the post. This followed a wave of criticism from government officials and even Trump’s son. Over the past year, Trump has faced two assassination attempts, one resulting in injuries and a death of an innocent bystander.
“We looked at it and tried to make sense of it, and she mentioned something related to her time as a restaurant server,” Comey said. “She thought it referred to the term ’86’ commonly used in that industry.” However, Comey had a different initial perspective on what “86” meant, likening it to an expression from his youth—something like when a place “smelled bad” and needed to clear out.
Colbert, who had bartending experience, chimed in to share that the term “86” can also imply cutting off alcohol service to overly intoxicated patrons.
Comey reiterated that he found the shell arrangement intriguing and “smart,” which is how the idea to post it came about. He explained, “She said, ‘You should take a picture of it.’ So I thought, that sounds fair, and then she said, ‘You should Instagram it.’ And that was that.”
Colbert suggested that Trump didn’t view the display as “smart.” In fact, he commented that even “children” could interpret the shell arrangement as something threatening. Following the incident, Comey was questioned by the Secret Service, who inquired about his post and its implications. “They handled it professionally, asking what I meant and why I did it,” Comey stated, emphasizing he believed it would blow over.
In the end, Comey reflected on the unexpected fallout while on the show, with Colbert humorously acknowledging the viral stir Comey had inadvertently created.
