On Thursday evening, Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, made headlines by calling for former FBI Director James Comey to be jailed. Her comments came after Comey posted a photo on social media that many interpreted as a threat against President Donald Trump.
During an appearance on Fox News with Jesse Watters, Gabbard expressed her concern for Trump’s safety. She strongly disagreed with Comey’s claim that he didn’t realize the significance of the numbers “86” and “47” in the photo, which showed shells arranged on a beach. The number "86" is often used as slang for "to kill," and Trump is referred to as the 47th president.
Gabbard stated, “I’m very concerned for [Trump’s] life,” and insisted that Comey should face legal consequences for what she described as a direct threat. She emphasized that regardless of Comey’s intent, he should be held accountable under the law for his actions.
Comey, who was dismissed by Trump in 2017 and has been critical of him since, faced backlash after sharing the photo with the caption, “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.” After the post drew criticism, he deleted it and clarified that he did not intend to suggest anything violent. He stated, “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 FBI, under the direction of Kash Patel, is reportedly looking into the matter. Patel confirmed that they are in communication with the Secret Service regarding the implications of Comey’s post.
Gabbard pointed out that people have been arrested for making threats against both her and Trump in the past. She highlighted the seriousness of the situation, particularly since Trump survived two assassination attempts during the 2024 campaign.
In her closing remarks, Gabbard reiterated the need for accountability, stating that those who issue threats against the president must be held responsible, regardless of their intentions. She called for adherence to the rule of law, which she believes Comey should uphold, given his background in law enforcement.