Former FBI Director James Comey sparked controversy with a recent Instagram post showing seashells arranged to form the numbers "86" and "47." Many interpreted this as a call to "get rid of" President Donald Trump, who is the 47th president of the United States. Comey shared the photo while walking on the beach, captioning it, "Cool shell formation on my beach walk." However, he later deleted the post.
The backlash was swift. Donald Trump Jr. took to social media to express his outrage, accusing Comey of casually calling for his father’s murder. He tweeted, "This is who the Dem-Media worships. Demented!!!!" Other critics joined in, including Senator Marsha Blackburn, who questioned Comey’s motives, especially in light of previous assassination attempts against Trump. Meghan McCain also weighed in, calling the post a direct threat and suggesting Comey should be visited by the Secret Service.
Senator Tommy Tuberville added to the criticism, labeling Comey’s post as "beyond despicable" and demanding accountability. In response to the uproar, current FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the Bureau was aware of the situation and was in communication with the Secret Service regarding the matter.
Following the backlash, Comey issued a statement explaining that he had not realized the numbers could be interpreted as violent. He claimed he simply stumbled upon the shells arranged that way and did not intend to threaten anyone. "I oppose violence of any kind, so I took the post down," he said.
Despite his explanation, many critics remained skeptical. Commentator Greg Price remarked on the irony of Comey, a former head of the FBI, claiming ignorance about the implications of his post. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding Trump and his supporters, as well as the heightened sensitivity to perceived threats in the current political climate.