President Donald Trump has criticized a puzzling social media post from former FBI director James Comey. During an interview with Fox News in Abu Dhabi, Trump indicated that the shells arranged in a specific formation—creating the numbers “86 47″—were deliberate.
“He wasn’t particularly capable, but he knew what it meant and did it intentionally,” Trump said in the interview aired on “Special Report.”
The Instagram post, captioned “My Beach Walk Cool Shell Formation,” has been interpreted by some as a coded message, with “86” meaning “get rid of” and “47” referencing Trump, the 47th president.
Comey later removed the post, claiming he didn’t realize it could be associated with violence, stating, “It never occurred to me, but I oppose any form of violence, so I deleted it.”
Trump, however, remained skeptical, stating, “He knew exactly what it implied. The kids knew what it meant. If you’re the FBI director and you don’t recognize that, it suggests assassination, and you’re broadcasting it clearly.”
When asked about potential consequences for Comey, Trump hesitated to provide a clear answer but mentioned that investigations by the Justice Department and Secret Service were ongoing.
“If he had a clean record, maybe. But he’s a dirty cop… I’ll let them decide,” he said.
Trump also discussed foreign policy achievements, claiming he played a role in mediating peace and facilitating economic transactions in the Middle East.
“I use trade to settle scores and foster peace,” he stated, referencing a recent ceasefire deal between India and Pakistan as a significant development that potentially averted nuclear conflict.
He said, “I thought there might be a nuclear war, but now everyone is content. I even told my people to reach out and start negotiations immediately.”
Earlier this month, Trump announced the ceasefire on social media, applauding both nations for exhibiting “common sense.” He reiterated his aim of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, emphasizing a preference for peaceful resolutions.
Back in Washington, Trump mentioned three major investment agreements from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, collectively valued at billions and aimed at boosting the U.S. economy. He criticized President Biden’s handling of the region, asserting, “It’s a great area, but it wasn’t treated properly by Biden, who seemed uninformed.”
On the ongoing war in Ukraine, Trump noted that the conflict seems to be dragging on, asserting economic pressure as a tool for peace negotiations, much like his approach with Iran.
As the interview rounded off, Trump touched upon two assassination attempts against him during the 2024 campaign, indicating that while some details remain classified, authorities have provided him some insight, though questions linger.
“It’s odd,” he commented about one suspect. “One guy had 18 phones. Who needs that many? I have a lot of phones, but only two are necessary.” He also noted that investigators found unusual activity on the attacker’s phone related to an incident in Pennsylvania where he was grazed by bullets.
Though Trump admitted to ongoing discomfort, he expressed reassurances from his staff that he is currently safe. “They said it was fine,” he remarked. “It’s a bit hard to believe given I still feel a kind of throbbing sensation,” he added, alluding to the lingering effects of the incident.
