Probe into alleged assassination threat to Trump involving James Comey

Former FBI Director James Comey is currently being investigated by US law enforcement following concerns that an Instagram post he shared may have hinted at harm toward former President Donald Trump. The post, which has since been deleted, showed sea shells arranged to form the numbers "86 47",  where "86" is sometimes used as slang for "eliminate," and "47" references Trump as the 47th president.

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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem brought attention to the situation, stating that federal agencies, including the Secret Service, are reviewing the post as a possible security threat. She accused Comey of implying violence against Trump, sparking public concern.

Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of @POTUS Trump.

DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately.

— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem)

Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of @POTUS Trump.

DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately.

— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) May 15, 2025

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In response, Comey explained that he had no harmful intentions behind the image. According to him, it was simply a photo from a walk on the beach and not meant to send any hidden message. He claimed he didn’t associate the numbers with violence and removed the post once he learned about the possible interpretation.

This situation has gained traction due to the heightened atmosphere around Trump’s safety. Just last year, he survived an assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania, where he was injured. Since then, threats against him have drawn even more attention, leading to increased scrutiny of any perceived danger.