Former FBI Director James Comey has deleted his entire Instagram account after backlash over a cryptic post many Americans believe was a veiled threat against President Donald Trump.
The post, which featured seashells arranged in the sand to display the numbers “8647,” immediately raised red flags among Trump allies, law enforcement officials, and concerned citizens.
The number “86” is widely recognized as slang for eliminating or killing someone, while “47” is a clear reference to Trump’s position as the 47th president. Taken together, many interpreted the message as a disturbing call to “86 47”—in other words, to harm or kill President Trump.
Comey captioned the image, “Cool shell formation on my beach walk,” but his attempt to pass it off as innocent was quickly called out as disingenuous.
Outrage and Official Action
The firestorm erupted quickly. Donald Trump Jr. didn’t mince words in his response, posting on X, “Just James Comey casually calling for my dad to be murdered.”
Just James Comey causally calling for my dad to be murdered.
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 15, 2025
This is who the Dem-Media worships. Demented!!!! pic.twitter.com/4LUK6crHAT
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem echoed the concerns, saying Comey’s post was effectively “a call for the assassination of Trump.” She confirmed that both the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Secret Service are actively investigating the matter.
Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of @POTUS Trump.
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) May 15, 2025
DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately.
FBI Director Kash Patel also confirmed the bureau is coordinating with the Secret Service. “This is being taken seriously,” Patel stated. “We’re working closely with all relevant agencies.”
We are aware of the recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey, directed at President Trump. We are in communication with the Secret Service and Director Curran. Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support.
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) May 15, 2025
The concern is not unfounded. President Trump has already survived two assassination attempts in the past year, including one that resulted in him being shot and a civilian being killed. Against that backdrop, Comey’s post is not something officials—or the American people—are willing to dismiss lightly.
Comey Tries to Backpedal, Then Disappears
Initially, Comey tried to do damage control. After deleting the post, he issued a follow-up message claiming he “didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence,” and added that he opposes violence “of any kind.” But the damage was already done—and few appeared to buy his explanation.
Shortly afterward, Comey deleted his entire Instagram account. His profile now returns error messages like “User not found” or “This page isn’t available,” suggesting an attempt to erase his digital footprint and avoid further scrutiny.
This latest controversy adds to the long list of Comey’s scandals and credibility issues. He played a central role in the discredited Russia collusion narrative, the mishandling of the Clinton email probe, and the politicization of the FBI during Trump’s first term. Now, with a post that many see as a not-so-subtle threat, he appears to be trying once again to dodge accountability.
This is a developing story. Further updates to follow.