Exploring James Comey’s Instagram Impact on Political Rhetoric and Violence
Comey’s Controversial Post Sparks Outrage
James Comey, who served as FBI Director from 2013 until his firing by President Trump in 2017, posted an image to his Instagram account showing seashells arranged to form the numbers “86 47.” The post immediately drew intense criticism from Trump supporters who interpreted the numerical sequence as a coded call for violence against the President, as “86” is slang often used in restaurants to mean removing or getting rid of something, while “47” references Trump’s position as the 47th President of the United States.
Comey quickly deleted the post and claimed he did not arrange the shells himself, stating he assumed they were simply a political message he came across. This explanation has been met with skepticism from critics who point to Comey’s history of antagonism toward Trump, with many calling for his arrest and formal investigation by the FBI and Secret Service for what they perceive as a threat against the president.
Growing Pattern of Contentious Messaging
The “86 47” controversy is not the first instance of numerical messaging being used in anti-Trump contexts. During Trump’s first term, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer was criticized for displaying “86 45” in the background of a television interview, with Trump campaign officials accusing her of encouraging violence against the president. Whitmer’s office denied these allegations, with a spokesman stating: “It’s pretty clear nobody in the Trump campaign has ever worked a food service job,” referencing the restaurant industry origins of the term.
Social media figure Ed Krassenstein similarly faced backlash after posting an “86 47” message, later claiming it simply meant removing Trump from office through legal means. “For the record, I am 100% against violence in any form,” Krassenstein stated after receiving criticism, though his explanation did little to quell concerns among Trump supporters about the seemingly coded language being normalized in political discourse.
The timing of Comey’s post has heightened tensions, given the two assassination attempts against Trump during the 2024 campaign season. Former Democratic Representative Tulsi Gabbard condemned Comey’s actions, stating: “That is a ridiculous and insane statement to make. Coming from a guy who is the former director of the FBI.”
The controversy has sparked renewed debate about the responsibility public figures bear when communicating on social media platforms, particularly those with backgrounds in law enforcement and national security. Many Republican lawmakers have called for formal investigations into whether Comey’s post constitutes a threat or incitement to violence under federal law, while others have used the incident to highlight what they describe as a dangerous double standard in how threatening language is treated depending on the political target.
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