Former FBI Chief Hints at Trump Assasination! Shocking Social Media Post Sparks Uproar
James Comey’s ‘8647’ Post Sparks Uproar, Federal Probe
Former FBI Director James Comey ignited a firestorm on Thursday by posting an Instagram photo of seashells arranged as “8647,” captioned “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.”
The post, swiftly deleted, drew accusations from Trump supporters, including Donald Trump Jr., of being a veiled threat against President Donald Trump, the 47th U.S. president. The number “86,” slang for “get rid of” or, in rarer contexts, “to kill” per Merriam-Webster, paired with “47,” was interpreted as a call to harm Trump.
The U.S. Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security are now investigating, with FBI Director Kash Patel confirming support for the probe.
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Comey, fired by Trump in 2017 amid a Russia probe, clarified in a follow-up post: “I assumed [the shells] were a political message. I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence… I oppose violence of any kind, so I took the post down.”
Trump dismissed this, telling Fox News, “He knew exactly what that meant… That meant assassination.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem labeled it a direct threat, while Tulsi Gabbard called for Comey’s arrest, citing Trump’s survival of two 2024 assassination attempts.
Critics, like the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, argue the post is protected free speech, noting “86”’s primary meaning as “remove” and its vague intent.
Posts on social media reveal polarized sentiment: some see it as a deliberate provocation, others as MAGA overreach, pointing to “8646” anti-Biden merchandise. The “8647” slogan, circulating on TikTok and protest signs, signals anti-Trump sentiment but lacks clear violent intent, per Distractify.
Comey’s history with Trump, including his 2018 memoir criticizing him, fuels the controversy, though legal action remains questionable due to the post’s ambiguity.
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