FBI, DHS & Secret Service launch major investigation into the 86-47 Trump
— George Balfour-Kinnear (@balfourUK) May 16, 2025
“assassination threat” post by James Comey. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/tAEcrrQGMp
The number “86” is commonly used as slang to mean getting rid of something or ejecting someone — especially in restaurant and bar settings when referring to menu items. Trump is the 47th president of the US.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Thursday that federal authorities are investigating a since-deleted Instagram post by former FBI Director James Comey, which Republican officials allege contained a veiled call for violence against President Donald Trump.
The controversy centers on Comey’s Thursday morning post showing beach shells arranged in shapes resembling “86 47” with the caption: “cool shell formation on my beach walk.” Trump administration figures quickly interpreted this as referencing the 47th president, with “86” allegedly serving as slang for killing.
“DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately,” Noem stated. The post was deleted hours later, with Comey clarifying: “I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence… I oppose violence of any kind.”
🚨NOEM SAYS DHS AND SECRET SERVICE ARE INVESTIGATING COMEY OVER HIS INSTAGRAM POST THREATENING TRUMP pic.twitter.com/Y7XqsVUHDp
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) May 15, 2025
The backlash intensified as Donald Trump Jr. accused Comey of “calling for my father’s killing,” while White House deputy chief of staff James Blair called it a “Clarion Call to terrorists” during Trump’s Middle East trip. Current FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed coordination with the Secret Service.
The number “86” is commonly used as slang to mean getting rid of something or ejecting someone — especially in restaurant and bar settings when referring to menu items. Trump is the 47th president of the US.
Merriam-Webster notes “86” primarily means “to discard” in slang, though acknowledges emerging violent connotations.
“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,” White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich wrote on X. “This is deeply concerning to all of us and is being taken seriously.”
“Just James Comey causally [sic] calling for my dad to be murdered,” Trump Jr. tweeted, sharing a screenshot of the former FBI director’s Instagram post. “This is who the Dem-Media worships. Demented!!!!”