James Comey defends Instagram post amid Trump threat allegations
- James Comey posted a picture of seashells with the numbers '8647' on Instagram.
- The post led to accusations from Trump's allies that it was a threat against the president.
- Comey clarified that the post was innocent and emphasized that he does not wish to be associated with violence.
In the United States, former FBI Director James Comey recently found himself in the center of a controversy following an Instagram post he made during the week of May 11. The post featured a picture of seashells and the numbers '8647,' which some members of President Donald Trump's inner circle interpreted as a threat. They linked '86' to the slang meaning of 'get rid of' and associated '47' with Trump being the 47th president. Comey, during an interview with MSNBC's Nicole Wallace on May 19, clarified that he intended no such harm and described the post as simply something he and his wife found amusing while on a beach walk. He highlighted the misunderstanding, claiming he perceived '86' as a common restaurant term indicating that an item is no longer available, while his wife had a similar experience in the food industry. After receiving backlash, Comey expressed surprise at how seriously the post was taken, asserting his desire to avoid being linked to any violence and stating that the claims were ridiculous. He indicated that the entire situation illustrates the charged political climate in today's society, where innocent actions can be misconstrued. This incident further emphasizes Comey's complex relationship with Trump, which has been fraught since Comey's dismissal in 2017, and is compounded by ongoing tensions surrounding Comey’s ongoing criticisms of the Trump administration and his endorsement of Trump's potential opponent for the 2024 presidential election, Kamala Harris.