Comey’s ‘8647’ message ‘concerns’ White House and prompts DHS investigation

“Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of @POTUS Trump,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on X in response to Comey’s post. “DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately.”

Current FBI Director Kash Patel added that his agency is “in communication with the Secret Service and Director [Sean] Curran. Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support.”

On Thursday, Comey posted a picture on Instagram of shells in the formation of “8647” with the caption “Cool shell formation on my beach walk…” He later took the post down and said he didn’t know that “86” was associated with violence. To be “86’ed” is slang for “to be thrown out” or “get rid of,” according to Merriam-Webster.

While President Trump is currently on an international trip to the Middle East, the former FBI Director puts out what can clearly be interpreted as “a hit” on the sitting President of the United States—a message etched in the sand.

This is deeply concerning to all of us and is… pic.twitter.com/RF0Dl3t1JF

— Taylor Budowich (@Taylor47) May 15, 2025

“Eighty-six is slang meaning ‘to throw out,’ ‘to get rid of,’ or ‘to refuse service to.’ It comes from 1930s soda-counter slang meaning that an item was sold out,” their website notes.

The “47” is seen as representing Trump, as he is the 47th (and 45th) president of the United States.

The post could mean Comey wants Trump out of the White House and not dead.

“I 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,” Comey said in a follow-up Instagram post.

White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich suggested the post was putting out “a hit” on Trump. “While President Trump is currently on an international trip to the Middle East, the former FBI Director puts out what can clearly be interpreted as ‘a hit’ on the sitting President of the United States—a message etched in the sand,” he said in a post on X.

The suggestion of violence toward Trump is a sensitive topic given the president escaped two assassination attempts last year, one with a bullet grazing his ear and another with a rifleman waiting for him as he golfed.

Other Republican figures denounced the post by Comey. “Just James Comey causally calling for my dad to be murdered,” Donald Trump Jr. posted on X. “This is who the Dem-Media worships. Demented!!!!”

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) said the post is “absolute evil” and that Comey “knows what he is doing.”

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Comey is unlikely to be charged with any crime because the threat appears to be vague, if there is any at all. Protesters during the “Hands Off” nationwide rallies wore shirts and carried signs with “8647,” indicating the number could be a common threat.

Comey served as FBI director from September 2013 to May 2017, when Trump fired him.

The Washington Examiner reached out to the White House for further comment.