James Comey sparks outrage over deleted post invoking 'hit' on Trump

In the United States, a controversial social media incident involving former FBI Director James Comey has emerged, prompting an investigation by the Secret Service. On a Thursday in May 2025, Comey shared a now-deleted Instagram post that featured a photo of seashells arranged to display the numbers '8647'. This post was quickly met with severe backlash from Republicans, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who alleged that it was a veiled call for violence against President Donald Trump, the 47th president. Comey, who served as the FBI Director from 2013 until his firing by Trump in 2017, expressed surprise at the interpretation of his post, claiming he did not associate the numbers with violence. He subsequently removed the post and stated, 'I oppose violence of any kind.' The number '86' is slang that, according to Merriam-Webster, can mean 'to throw out' or 'to kill', thus further fueling the controversy. As Trump was on an international trip at the time, the situation heightened tensions, prompting various officials to condemn Comey’s post as completely inappropriate. Current FBI Director Kash Patel acknowledged that the agency was aware of the social media post and was in communication with the Secret Service regarding the ongoing investigation. Moreover, the backlash included comments from prominent figures, including Donald Trump Jr., who accused Comey of calling for his father's assassination. Officials from the Trump administration noted the timing of Comey’s message coincided with increased security concerns given Trump's travels abroad. The Secret Service spokesperson affirmed their responsibility to investigate any potential threats against the president and emphasized that they take rhetoric of this nature very seriously. This incident not only raised questions about Comey’s judgment in posting such content but also brought into the spotlight the charged political atmosphere in the country. Given the ongoing divisiveness and prior attempts on Trump’s life, stakeholders expressed concerns over the implications of public figures making posts perceived as threats against politicians. As a result, this ongoing investigation reveals the ramifications of social media use by former officials, especially in relation to the current political climate.