On Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that federal law enforcement is investigating a social media post made by former FBI Director James Comey, which Republicans, including Noem herself, allege is a call for violence against President Donald Trump.
Comey's Instagram post featured a photo of seashells arranged in a way that seemingly formed the numbers “86 47.” In political discourse, the number “86” is often used as slang for getting rid of someone, including fatal interpretations. Following the backlash, Comey's post was deleted. In a subsequent clarification, he stated, "I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence."
Comey further emphasized that violence is something he opposes and that he had not intended any harmful implications. Despite this, the original post provoked strong reactions from conservatives on social media, with figures like Donald Trump Jr. accusing Comey of advocating for his father's assassination. The concern was underscored by the current environment as Trump was traveling in the Middle East during this time.
Current FBI Director Kash Patel acknowledged awareness of Comey's controversial post and indicated that discussions were taking place with the Secret Service regarding the matter. The White House's deputy chief of staff for legislative, political, and public affairs, James Blair, labeled the post a "Clarion Call from Jim Comey to terrorists & hostile regimes to kill the President of the United States as he travels in the Middle East."
James Comey served as the FBI director from 2013 until his firing by Trump in 2017, a move that occurred amid an investigation into potential connections between Russian officials and Trump's 2016 campaign. In the years following his dismissal, Comey has authored a best-selling memoir titled "A Higher Loyalty" and has transitioned into writing crime fiction. His latest book, "FDR Drive," is set to be released soon.
This incident illustrates the heightened tensions surrounding political discourse in the current climate, as well as the potential consequences of seemingly innocuous social media posts when interpreted within an increasingly polarized political context.
