Kash Patel Digs into James Comey’s ‘86 47 Plot Against Trump'

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FBI Director Kash Patel Responds to James Comey’s Controversial Social Media Post Amid Secret Service Investigation

By TRH News Desk

NEW DELHI, May 16, 2025 – FBI Director Kash Patel issued a swift response to a now-deleted Instagram post by former FBI Director James Comey, which sparked outrage among Republicans and prompted a federal investigation. Patel said that the FBI is extending assistance in the ongoing probe into the issue.

Patel’s statement, posted on X, read: “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.”

The controversy erupted on Thursday when Comey shared an Instagram photo of seashells arranged to form the numbers “86 47,” captioned, “cool shell formation on my beach walk.” Many Republicans, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair, interpreted the post as a veiled threat against President Donald Trump, the 47th president.

The slang term “86” per a report by The Washington Post can mean “to get rid of” or, in some contexts, “to kill,” leading to accusations that Comey was advocating violence.

Noem condemned the post on X, stating, “Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of President Trump. DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately.”

Donald Trump Jr. also reacted strongly, writing, “Just James Comey causally calling for my dad to be murdered. This is who the Dem-Media worships. Demented!!!!”

Comey deleted the post amid the backlash and issued a follow-up statement: “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.”

Security and legal experts weighed in on the incident, highlighting its implications. Former US Attorney Jay Town, commenting on Fox News, noted that the Secret Service’s involvement was appropriate given Trump’s recent international trip to the Middle East and two prior assassination attempts against him in the past year.

“This is not a trivial matter, especially given the timing and Comey’s history with Trump,” Town said.

The US-based observers also claim that Comey ordered “honeypot” spies to infiltrate Trump’s 2016 campaign. The FBI is already probing Comey’s alleged use of ‘honeypot’ spies against the 2016 Trump campaign.

Dr. Sarah Adams, a former CIA officer and security analyst, posted on X: “Comey’s post, intentional or not, was reckless for someone of his stature. The ‘86 47’ imagery is easily misread in today’s polarized climate. Patel’s measured response shows the FBI is deferring to Secret Service protocol, but this will fuel more distrust in federal institutions.”

James Comey served as FBI Director from 2013 until his abrupt firing by President Trump in 2017, during the FBI’s investigation into alleged ties between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russian officials.

The dismissal, widely criticized as an attempt to obstruct justice, led to the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Comey’s subsequent memoir, A Higher Loyalty, and public statements have consistently criticized Trump, calling him “morally unfit” for office.

Kash Patel, a Trump loyalist and vocal critic of the FBI’s handling of the 2016 election, was appointed FBI Director in 2025, replacing Christopher Wray. Patel’s tenure has been marked by promises to reform the bureau and investigate perceived biases, including Comey’s actions during the 2016 campaign.

Ongoing Investigation

The Secret Service has confirmed it is investigating Comey’s post, with agents reportedly planning to interview the former director. White House officials, including Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich, expressed alarm over the timing, noting, “While President Trump is currently on an international trip to the Middle East, the former FBI Director puts out what can clearly be interpreted as ‘a hit’ on the sitting President of the United States—a message etched in the sand.”

As of Friday morning, “Comey” was trending on X with over 213,000 posts, reflecting the intense public and political reaction. While Comey maintains the post was a misunderstanding, the incident has reignited debates over political rhetoric, the role of former officials in public discourse, and the challenges of interpreting intent in a hyper-polarized environment.

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