A photo shared on Instagram by former FBI director James Comey is under scrutiny from the U.S. Secret Service after Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem described it as a “threat” toward Donald Trump.
On Thursday, Comey posted this photo that appeared to convey the message “8647.”
Trump supporters interpreted this as a call for violence against the former president. There’s also some discussion around the number 86; it’s a term frequently used in the restaurant industry to mean removing or discarding something, but lately, it’s also been used to imply “killing,” according to Merriam-Webster.
Following the backlash, Comey took down the post and clarified that he wasn’t aware of any violent connotations associated with it, emphasizing that he does not condone violence.
“I shared some photos of shells I found during a beach walk, mistakenly thinking it was a political statement,” Comey explained. “I didn’t realize that people were connecting those digits to violence. It wasn’t cross my mind, but I removed the post because I stand against any form of violence.”
This incident stirred up a significant reaction from those on the right, with Trump’s supporters accusing Comey of advocating for the president’s assassination. Notably, Trump has survived actual threats during past campaign events.
“The disgraceful former FBI director James Comey is calling for assassination,” Noem stated on X. “DHS and the Secret Service are looking into this threat and will act as necessary.”
The tense relationship between Comey and Trump began during the earlier part of Trump’s presidency, particularly when Trump sought Comey’s loyalty, which was declined. This led to Comey, who was leading an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, being let go in a surprising move.
Comey’s presence has always sparked controversy, particularly among Trump’s supporters, as he becomes a lightning rod in political discussions.
Trump’s allies quickly condemned Comey on Thursday. “We acknowledge the recent social media activity by former FBI director James Comey directed at President Trump,” FBI director Kash Patel noted on X, adding that the FBI would provide necessary support in this matter.
In a separate reaction, Taylor Budowich, the Vice Chief of Staff of the White House, expressed his concerns over the photo, suggesting it might be interpreted as a threat against a sitting U.S. president.
Tennessee Representative Tim Burchett, a staunch supporter of Trump, went further, calling for Comey’s arrest, which he mentioned in a post on X.
