Former FBI Director James Comey is currently facing scrutiny after sharing a photo on social media featuring seashells arranged to spell out “8647.” The post, which Comey described as a “cool shell formation on my beach walk,” was published on May 15 and quickly sparked outrage among supporters of President Donald Trump, the 47th president of the United States. Critics accused Comey of using the number “86” as an incitement to violence against the president.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her concerns, stating, “Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of @POTUS Trump.” She indicated that the Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service were investigating the issue and would respond appropriately. Comey, who was FBI director from 2013 until his firing by Trump in 2017, later deleted the post and clarified his intentions.
In a follow-up statement, Comey asserted that he was not advocating violence against Trump. “I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message,” he explained. “I didn’t realize some folks associated those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me, but I oppose violence of any kind, so I took the post down.”
The term “eighty-six” has a rich history, with various theories regarding its origins. Many believe it stems from the hospitality industry, where it was used as a code indicating that a menu item was unavailable or that a customer needed to be removed from the premises. Linguist and lexicographer Ben Zimmer noted that “as a verb, ‘eighty-six’ first referred to discarding or getting rid of something, beginning in the late 1940s.”
The Merriam-Webster dictionary traces the term back to 1930s soda-counter slang, where it meant that an item was sold out. While there are multiple anecdotes explaining the term's use, one popular theory suggests that it is rhyming slang for “nix.” Other theories propose that it originated from soup kitchens during the Great Depression, where a standard pot held 85 servings, leaving the 86th person without food.
Zimmer pointed out that while “eighty-six” can sometimes carry violent connotations, the idea that it is synonymous with killing someone is a relatively recent interpretation. Merriam-Webster notes that it does not include such a meaning in its definition of “eighty-six,” emphasizing that this association is infrequent and more prevalent in slang dictionaries.
James Comey is not the first political figure to use the term “eighty-six.” In February 2024, former Representative Matt Gaetz referenced the term in a post, indicating that key figures in the Republican Party had been “86'd,” including Kevin McCarthy, Ronna McDaniel, and Mitch McConnell. In October 2020, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer faced backlash after a pin displaying “8645” was spotted during an interview, with critics noting the connection to then-President Trump, who was the 45th president.
In January 2022, conservative activist Jack Posobiec posted “86 46” on X, referring to former President Joe Biden. In 2018, a Virginia restaurant reportedly asked White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders to leave, with staff noting “86 — Sarah Huckabee Sanders” in their overnight log. A search for “8647” on online marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon reveals a variety of items, many with “anti-Trump” sentiments.
PolitiFact consulted several retired FBI agents regarding the use of the term and its implications for inciting political violence. Frank Figliuzzi, a retired FBI special agent, stated, “I never in my 25 years in the FBI have I seen that term used with intention to incite violence.” Similarly, Michael Tabman, another former FBI agent, remarked, “I doubt Comey intended that to incite violence; only to express his dissatisfaction.”
However, Tabman cautioned that public figures should be mindful of their language, saying, “When I do hear people saying things that I know they do not mean, I caution them not to repeat that, or the [Secret Service] will be visiting them.” Bobby Chacon, another former FBI agent, emphasized the importance of context, stating that all threats must be viewed in light of the current political climate and the potential interpretations by followers.
