FBI Director Kash Patel has responded after former Director James Comey posted a photo on social media that appeared to call for the assassination of President Donald Trump. In the post, Comey took a picture of seashells arranged with the numbers “86 47” – the “86” being a mobster-era slang term for a “hit.”
Comey has since taken the post down and claimed in a follow-up that though he knew it was a “political statement,” he claimed to not realize it was a call for violence, but Patel wasn’t buying it, and neither were others in the Trump administration.
“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 tweeted.
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.
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) May 15, 2025
“DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately,” warned Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in a post on X. President Trump himself has also responded. During an interview with Fox News anchor Bret Baier, Trump appeared to discount Comey’s claim that he didn’t understand what the message meant.
President Trump responds to James Comey’s alleged threat on his life by noting, correctly, that the former FBI director’s claim “Oh I didn’t know what 86 47 meant” is BS. pic.twitter.com/aDJ29KbzkP
— USA Features Media (@UsaFeatures) May 16, 2025
In an interview with Fox News’ Jesse Watters, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said that she believes Comey should be jailed for what she said was a clear threat against Trump.
“Do you believe that Comey is goading you guys to come after him because he wants to be a political martyr?” Watters asked. “He wants to be set up so he can say, oh, look, we were right. Donald Trump is a dictator. They’re coming after me. They’re arresting me. They’re interrogating me. I was just using my free speech.”
“You know, whatever his intent, I will tell you that there is a guy in Georgia who was issuing threats on my life about a month ago, and he’s in jail today,” Gabbard replied. “He has been indicted with a crime, as he should have been, and he is in jail as we speak. So, whatever James Comey’s intent, he and people like him need to be held to account according to the law, which is something that he claims to have given his life for and stands by the rule of law. Fantastic. The rule of law says people like him, who issue direct threats against the president of the United States, essentially issuing a call to assassinate him, must be held accountable under the law.
“Do you believe Comey should be in jail?” Watters asked. “I do,” she said. “Any other person with the position of influence that he has, people who take very seriously what a guy of his stature, his experience, and what the propaganda media has built him up to be, I’m very concerned for the president’s life. We’ve already seen assassination attempts. I’m very concerned for his life, and James Comey, in my view, should be held accountable and put behind bars for this.”
