Trump allies demand FBI investigation into James Comey post over alleged 'assassination' code targeting President

A cryptic social media post sent shockwaves through the political world this week.

Just numbers, some seashells, yet for many, they contained a chilling message aimed at a former president.

The Post That Ignited a Firestorm

The controversy centers around a social media post from former FBI Director James Comey.

It featured an image of seashells arranged to display the numbers "8647."

Almost immediately, prominent voices in the MAGA movement erupted, interpreting the numbers as a coded threat against former President Donald Trump.

He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant…That meant ‘assassination,’

Trump himself stated during an interview on Fox News.

The reaction was swift and intense, with calls for official investigations into Comey's intent.

Rep. Andy Ogles, for example, shared a letter urging an immediate joint investigation by the FBI and Secret Service.

FBI Director Kash Patel also indicated he was in communication with the Secret Service regarding the potential for an investigation.

Debate Over the Meaning of "86"

At the heart of the controversy is the number "86."

While some interpret it as a coded call for violence, particularly in the context of Trump being the 47th president ("8647"), the number has other meanings.

According to Merriam-Webster, "86" can mean "to throw out" or "get rid of," originating from restaurant slang for being "sold out" or denying service to a disruptive patron.

Prior Uses of Political "86"

Adding complexity to the situation, some figures now critical of Comey's use of "86" have used similar terminology themselves in a political context.

Former Congressman Matt Gaetz previously tweeted about having "86’d" several prominent Republicans, including Kevin McCarthy and Mitch McConnell, from leadership posts.

When asked about the difference, Gaetz told The Independent his use was "distinct."

I was speaking in the past tense about things that had already happened,

Gaetz explained.

Comey was putting out a call for future action. These are distinct.

Similarly, figures have pointed to instances of "8646" being used in online rhetoric and merchandise related to former President Joe Biden (the 46th president).

MAGA media figure Jack Posobiec tweeted "8646" in 2022.

This highlights how numerical codes and slang can enter political discourse, leading to varied interpretations and strong reactions.

Comey Responds to the Allegations

Amidst the intense backlash and calls for investigation, James Comey addressed the controversy.

He stated there was no intent of violence in his social media post.

He subsequently deleted the picture.

In a follow-up post, Comey clarified his perspective.

I posted a picture earlier of some shells I saw on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message,

he wrote.

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 incident underscores the volatile nature of political communication in the digital age, where even seemingly innocuous posts can be interpreted in dramatically different ways, leading to significant controversy and demands for official action.