The Image and Its Interpretation

The image, captured in screenshots by Trump administration officials, quickly became a focal point of debate.While Comey did not explicitly state the post’s meaning, officials and some observers interpreted the numbers as a veiled reference to President Trump, the 47th president, combined with the slang term “eighty-six,” which often signifies “eject” or “remove.”

Comey’s Response and deletion

Following the uproar, comey removed the image and offered an explanation in a subsequent Instagram post:

Posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.

Despite Comey’s explanation, the Trump administration remained unconvinced, leading to further action.

Official Reactions and investigations

The post triggered immediate responses from key figures within the Trump administration, with some alleging a direct threat against the president.

• Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem: Accused Comey of calling for President Trump’s assassination, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that her agency and the Secret Service are investigating this threat and will respond appropriately.
• FBI Director Kash Patel: Announced that the FBI was aware of Comey’s post and was in communication with the Secret Service and Director Sean Curran, emphasizing that primary jurisdiction rested with the Secret Service.
• Secret Service Spokesperson: Affirmed that the agency vigorously investigates anything that can be taken as a potential threat against our protectees and takes such rhetoric seriously.
• White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich: Asserted that Comey’s message can clearly be interpreted as ‘a hit’ on the sitting President of the United States and is being taken seriously.

A History of Conflict

The incident is the latest chapter in a long-standing feud between Comey and Trump. comey served as FBI director from 2013 until his dismissal by Trump in 2017,a decision that ultimately led to Robert Mueller’s special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and potential coordination with the Trump campaign.

Since his firing, Comey has been a vocal critic of Trump, even calling him morally unfit to be president in a 2018 interview.

Past Threats Against Trump

The controversy surrounding Comey’s post also comes in the context of previous threats and assassination attempts against President Trump. During his presidential campaign last year, Trump was reportedly the target of two assassination attempts.

• July 13 Rally: A gunman opened fire at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing Trump’s ear with a bullet. One attendee was killed, and two others were wounded.
• September 14 Incident: A man was arrested for allegedly attempting to assassinate Trump at his golf course in West Palm Beach by aiming a rifle through shrubbery.