President Trump came within an inch of his life in July 2024. Could it happen again soon?
The answer to that question is why an FBI Director is being investigated for threatening President Trump’s life.
Trump Slams Comey’s Beach Post as Call for Assassination
President Donald Trump has fiercely criticized former FBI Director James Comey for a now-deleted Instagram post that appeared to advocate violence against him. The post, which featured the numbers “86 47” etched in seashells on a beach, has sparked outrage among Trump administration officials, who interpret it as a coded call to “86”—or eliminate—the 47th president. Trump, in a preview of a Fox News interview aired on social media, dismissed Comey’s attempt to downplay the post’s implications, asserting that its meaning was unmistakable.
“He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant,” Trump said. “If you’re the FBI director and you don’t know what that meant? That meant assassination. And it says it loud and clear. Now, he wasn’t very competent, but he was competent enough to know what that meant. And he did it for a reason, and he was hit so hard, because people like me, and they like what’s happening with our country. Our country has become respected again and all this—and he’s calling for the assassination of the president.”
Comey shared the controversial post on Thursday, captioning it, “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.” The image showed “8647” arranged in seashells, a combination widely perceived as a threatening reference to Trump, the 47th president. After swift backlash, Comey deleted the post and issued a follow-up statement claiming ignorance of the numbers’ violent connotation.
“I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message,” Comey’s second post read. “I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”
The Trump administration has responded with unified condemnation. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that the Secret Service and her department are investigating the post. In a statement on X, Noem called out Comey’s actions, emphasizing the gravity of the perceived threat.
“Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of [President] Trump,” Noem posted. “DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately.”
FBI Director Kash Patel also weighed in, affirming that his bureau is coordinating with the Secret Service. “We are aware of the recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey, directed at President Trump,” Patel posted on X. “We are in communication with the Secret Service and [Secret Service] Director [Sean] Curran. Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support.”
The White House, too, expressed alarm before the post’s removal. Deputy Chief of Staff and Cabinet Secretary Taylor Budowich highlighted the administration’s concern, noting Trump’s international engagements at the time. “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,” Budowich wrote on X. “This is deeply concerning to all of us and is being taken seriously.”
National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard took a particularly hard line, accusing Comey of “issuing a hit” on Trump and calling for his imprisonment. Her remarks reflect the administration’s view that Comey’s actions were deliberate and dangerous, especially given his history as a polarizing figure.
Trump, in his Fox News interview, questioned Comey’s credibility, referencing his tenure as FBI director. “I don’t want to take a position on it because that’s going to be up to Pam [Bondi] and all of the great people,” Trump said. “But I will say this, I think it’s a terrible thing, and when you add his history to that, if he had a clean history—he doesn’t, he’s a dirty cop. He’s a dirty cop. And if he had a clean history, I could understand if there was a leniency. But I’m going let them make that decision.”
The former FBI director’s claim that he was unaware of the numbers’ violent implications has been met with skepticism, given his extensive law enforcement background.
Gabbard’s public condemnation on X reinforces the administration’s message that such actions will not be tolerated, especially when directed at a president who has restored America’s global standing, as Trump emphasized in his remarks.
Patel’s involvement further demonstrates the coordinated effort across federal agencies to address the incident. His statement highlights the FBI’s supportive role, deferring primary jurisdiction to the Secret Service while pledging full cooperation.
Gabbard’s remarks resonate with Trump’s base, who see the president as unfairly targeted by establishment figures. As many have noted, the media using hyperbolic language for Donald Trump for years has had its consequences, with more and more radicals being born every day they turn on CNN or MSNBC and find TV hosts calling Donald Trump a “f*scist.”
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
