Criticism of Comey’s Controversial Instagram Post

Political contributor Chris Cillizza expressed his disapproval of former FBI director James Comey, who posted a now-deleted image displaying the numbers “8647” on Instagram. This posting, made on Thursday, sparked discussions about its implications, particularly regarding accusations aimed at President Donald Trump’s administration suggesting calls for assassination.

Cillizza, during his guest hosting segment, noted that some interpretations of the image as a threat from Trump were exaggerated, pointing out that “86” can have multiple meanings. However, he deemed Comey’s decision to share the post as foolish and unnecessary. He remarked on how, if former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn had shared a similar post, it would have led to significant backlash.

He further elaborated that individuals in politically relevant positions, including Comey, often make mistakes. “It’s just a bit silly,” he commented, questioning the rationale behind such posts.

Amber Duke, a senior editor and host, suggested that Comey might be exhibiting narcissistic tendencies, given his prominent role as FBI director. Cillizza agreed, indicating that Comey likely craved attention with this stunt. Duke also pointed out that Trump has been a target of two assassination attempts, adding another layer to the situation.

After the backlash, Comey took to Instagram to explain his intent, clarifying that he had originally shared the photo of shells from a beach walk without connecting the numbers to any violent connotations.

On “Morning Joe,” co-host Jonathan Lemia echoed Cillizza’s sentiments, labeling Comey’s actions as clearly misguided and highlighting the outrage as somewhat misplaced. He noted that Comey seemed to invite the attention, especially as he promoted his new book on social media.