Former FBI Director James Comey unleashed a hell storm after he shared a disturbing social media post.
Many interpreted it as a threat against President Donald Trump.
And now the Secret Service has made an announcement that has James Comey shaking while Tulsi Gabbard issues this call for immediate action.
Comey created a media firestorm Thursday when he posted a photo to his Instagram account showing seashells arranged to spell out “86 47” – widely understood as coded language suggesting the elimination of the 47th President.
“We vigorously investigate anything that can be taken as a potential threat against our protectees. We are aware of the social media posts by the former FBI Director & we take rhetoric like this very seriously. Beyond that, we do not comment on protective intelligence matters,” Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi announced on X.
We vigorously investigate anything that can be taken as a potential threat against our protectees. We are aware of the social media posts by the former FBI Director & we take rhetoric like this very seriously. Beyond that, we do not comment on protective intelligence matters. pic.twitter.com/uhYSB7GYvt
— Anthony Guglielmi (@SecretSvcSpox) May 16, 2025
The weak response from the Secret Service has raised eyebrows given the severity of a former FBI Director appearing to threaten a sitting President.
Comey quickly deleted the post after backlash mounted, replacing it with an explanation that strained credibility.
“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. It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down,” Comey claimed in his updated Instagram post.
In his original caption accompanying the shell arrangement, Comey had written “Cool shell formation on my beach walk” – implying he merely discovered the arrangement rather than creating it himself.
Just James Comey causally calling for my dad to be murdered.
This is who the Dem-Media worships. Demented!!!! pic.twitter.com/4LUK6crHAT
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 15, 2025
The term “86” is widely known slang in the restaurant industry for removing something from the menu or ejecting someone from an establishment. When paired with “47” – Trump’s Presidential number – the message takes on a far more sinister meaning.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed his agency is coordinating with the Secret Service on the investigation.
“We are aware of the recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey, directed at President Trump. We are in communication with the Secret Service and Director Curran. Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support,” Patel stated Thursday evening.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard called for Comey to be arrested over the post, highlighting the serious nature of the threat coming from someone who once led the nation’s premier law enforcement agency.
🚨 #BREAKING: Tulsi Gabbard just called for James Comey to be ARRESTED — says he ISSUED A HIT on President Trump
“He ABSOLUTELY knew what 86 meant…”
“James Comey should be held accountable and put behind bars for this,” Gabbard said pic.twitter.com/3rzo2UwYY4
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 16, 2025
Former Secret Service Agent Charles Marino told RealClearPolitics reporter Susan Crabtree that Comey has likely already received a visit from agents.
“Look, here’s the deal, they’re sending agents out, and they’re gonna talk to him, and he’s not gonna have a choice. He’s gonna have to talk to them, because this stuff about, well, I, you know, I found this on the beach. I didn’t know what it meant. None of that makes sense,” Marino explained.
The former agent predicted a difficult night ahead for Comey, noting, “These threat investigations are immediate. There’s no delay in these types of investigations, they are going to see to speak to him as soon as possible.”
.@Charles__Marino , a former Secret Service agent and national security expert, tells me James Comey is “gonna have a very, very, very long night.”
From his experience in the USSS, Marino predicts the Washington field offices for the USSS and the FBI have already been…
— Susan Crabtree (@susancrabtree) May 16, 2025
This incident comes at a time of heightened concerns about the safety of elected officials, particularly President Trump, who has already survived two assassination attempts during his political career.
The Department of Homeland Security has also joined the investigation, recognizing the severity of a threat coming from a former high-ranking official in federal law enforcement.
The fact that someone with Comey’s background and knowledge of federal law would post such a message has shocked many security experts. As FBI Director from 2013 to 2017, Comey would have been deeply familiar with how the Secret Service investigates threats against protected officials.
Comey has had a contentious relationship with Trump since his firing in May 2017. He later authored a book critical of Trump titled “A Higher Loyalty” and has remained a vocal critic of the President throughout his return to office.
Legal experts suggest Comey could potentially face serious charges if investigators determine the post constituted a genuine threat against the President of the United States.
The Secret Service has not yet announced whether Comey will face formal charges related to the incident.
