On May 16, in a striking turn of events, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly accused former FBI director James Comey of covertly calling for his assassination through a social media post. This accusation emerged as Trump rejected Comey's claims of ignorance regarding any violent implications of his message, which was shared on Instagram.
U.S. law enforcement officials have initiated an investigation into an intriguing Instagram photo posted by Comey. The image featured the number 8647 formed by seashells, accompanied by the comment, "Cool shell formation on my beach walk." In the context of U.S. slang, the number 86 can denote the act of throwing someone out of a bar for being disorderly, leading some of Trump's supporters to interpret Comey's message as a sinister call to violently remove Trump from office.
In an exclusive interview with Fox News, Trump responded emphatically to the accusations surrounding Comey's post. "He knew exactly what that meant," Trump asserted, emphasizing that even a child would understand the implications. "If you're the FBI director and you don't know what that meant? That meant assassination. And it says it loud and clear," he stated before departing Abu Dhabi after a four-day trip to the Middle East.
James Comey, who was dismissed from his role as FBI director by Trump in 2017, subsequently took down the controversial post following backlash from Trump supporters. In his defense, Comey remarked, "It never occurred to me. But I oppose violence of any kind, so I took the post down." However, he was unavailable for further comment on Trump's serious allegations.
Trump suggested that Comey faced significant backlash because of his popularity among the public and the positive sentiments surrounding his administration. "He's calling for the assassination of the president," Trump claimed, reiterating the gravity of the situation. The significance of the numbers 8647 and 8646 has been noted as they have appeared as political slogans and on merchandise during both Trump's presidency and that of his predecessor, Joe Biden, the 46th U.S. president.
Trump indicated that he would defer any further actions regarding the matter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and relevant authorities. The investigation into the alleged threat is being led by U.S. Secret Service Director Sean Curran, as confirmed by Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, during an appearance on Fox News. Gabbard dismissed Comey's explanation as "absurd," asserting that the 8647 slogan has been utilized by anti-Trump protesters as a veiled call to action against the current president.
This incident is not the first time Trump and Comey have been embroiled in controversy. Trump fired Comey early in his first term amid an investigation into potential collusion between the Trump 2016 presidential campaign and Russia. Comey has remained a vocal critic of Trump, labeling him morally unfit to lead in a 2018 interview. Notably, Trump himself has faced accusations of inciting violence through his social media posts, particularly during the events leading to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
As this story unfolds, the implications of Comey's social media activity and Trump's allegations will continue to be scrutinized both politically and legally.
