Comey’s “86 47” Post Sparks Copycat Threats, Now It’s a Protest Rallying Cry

Former FBI Director James Comey posted an image to Instagram showing beach shells arranged to read “86 47”—a message widely interpreted as a veiled assassination threat toward President Donald Trump, the 47th President of the United States. Shortly after, Loomer Unleashed called out Comey for inciting violence against the President and documented how his threat has inspired copycats to make similar threats.

Comey’s Shell Post Goes Viral

On May 15, 2025, Comey shared a beach photo on his Instagram. The image showed seashells arranged to form the numbers “86 47.” His caption read: “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.” Although seemingly benign, the number sequence quickly sparked public outrage—and for good reason.

Decoding “86 47”

In military and law enforcement slang, “86” is commonly understood to mean “eliminate” or “get rid of.” Combined with “47,” referencing Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States, the phrase takes on a darker meaning.

For someone with Comey’s background in intelligence and counterterrorism, the coded implication felt deliberate. “86 47” reads like a call to action against Trump. The phrase “86 45” gained traction among online activists during President Trump’s first term and has evolved into a persistent rallying cry for those expressing hostility toward Trump’s current administration.

Comey’s Instagram Post Gets Loomered and Goes Viral

Investigative journalist Laura Loomer was first to report on the threat and flagged the post immediately.

“WOW! Former FBI Director James Comey @Comey just posted this on his Instagram 2 hours ago, with the caption ‘cool shell formation on my beach walk’. It’s a pic of shells in the form of ‘86 47’. This is a call for the assassination of President Trump by the former FBI Director!”

The post was soon deleted, but the damage had already been done.

Secret Service Opens Probe

Comey deleted the post and issued a 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.”

Nice try, Comey.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed a federal investigation into Comey was underway.

“Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of @POTUS Trump. DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately.”

Comey Changes His Story

In a May 19th MSNBC interview with Nicolle Wallace, Comey blamed the shell formation on his wife, Patrice Failor. He explained that they discovered the shells while walking on the beach ahead of his book launch for FDR Drive. Wallace downplayed the incident, citing Rep. Matt Gaetz’s past use of “86’d” in political commentary.

In a February 2024 post, Rep. Matt Gaetz used the term “86’d” to celebrate the political exit of Kevin McCarthy, Ronna McDaniel, and Mitch McConnell. Unlike James Comey’s cryptic “86 47” post—interpreted as a veiled threat against President Trump—Gaetz’s message was clear political commentary marking a shift away from establishment GOP leadership, while implying that the resignation of these three individuals represents a purge of what he sees as failed leadership, paving the way for populist or America First reforms.

Comey Blames His Wife

Comey claimed his wife spotted the shell formation and thought it resembled an address. He allegedly recognized it as political, and his wife explained the term “86” from her restaurant background. According to Comey, she suggested he take a photo and post it. He mentioned it was really clever.

“I was walking the beach with my wife to clear my head, to think about the book and what questions people might ask me about it and what I might say,” Comey explained.

Comey dismissed concerns as absurd:

“It’s hard to have regret. I don’t expect the Trump administration to do anything. This isn’t my first rodeo.”

He brushed off the concern, saying whoever arranged the shells likely had “an artistic flair,” not dark intentions.

Despite claiming innocence, he contradicted himself multiple times. He said he didn’t know what “86” meant, yet admitted his wife explained it. He also stated he saw it as a political message.

Contradictions and Calculated Timing: Shameless Book Promo or Engineered Media Blitz?

This wasn’t just a beach stroll. Comey was preparing for media appearances to promote FDR Drive—a book that likely would have struggled to gain traction without controversy. The timing of the Instagram post suggests more than coincidence. Did Comey deliberately court controversy, knowing it would provoke President Trump and fuel a media firestorm? If so, it was a calculated risk that turned a veiled threat into viral marketing. The result: a national security scandal leveraged for book sales.

Colbert Appearance Adds Fuel

Comey reiterated his innocence during a May 20 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Colbert joked:

“It’s better than 69 47.”

Comey chuckled and shifted the conversation to Trump’s pardon of January 6 defendants, calling it:

“An obscenity that will stain this country forever.”

The interview focused more on promoting Comey’s book than addressing the seriousness of the controversy.

Playing the Victim, Attacking Trump Admin Officials

Comey portrayed himself as a target of political retribution. He accused Trump of obsessing over him and said the media backlash was part of a smear campaign. Asked to respond to criticism from Tulsi Gabbard, Comey deflected again.

“This isn’t my first rodeo,” Comey stated as he expressed concern for others with “less experience,” such as Chris Krebs, the former CISA director.

He then criticized key Trump admin officials, naming Kash Patel, Pam Bondi, and Gabbard as dangerous loyalists eroding democratic norms.

Context: Real Threats, Real Consequences

Federal officials and the Secret Service take all threats against current and former Presidents seriously. In this climate, even symbolic threats cannot be ignored.

The shell post came less than a year after two assassination attempts on President Trump. Former fire chief Corey Comperatore died protecting his family during the assassination attempt on President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. A bullet grazed Trump’s ear when he was shot. Others were injured by debris. The American public has not received full transparency about these attempts to end President Trump’s life.

Radical Left’s History With “86”

Comey’s post is part of a pattern. This isn’t the first time James Comey has used his platform to target President Trump—nor is it the first time he’s faced accusations of dishonesty and abuse of power.

And this isn’t the first time that Loomer Unleashed has captured far-Left extremists using this exact coded rhetoric to threaten the President. In April 2025, Loomer Unleashed released exclusive footage exposing bused-in anti-Trump protestors waving homemade signs bearing the message “86 47.”

Loomer also pointed out that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer previously appeared beside a sign that said, “86 45,” referring to President Trump’s first term.

This coded rhetoric has circulated in progressive circles for years. It is no longer plausible to claim these signals are accidental.

Comey’s Long-Running Feud With Trump

Comey’s feud with Trump began in 2017. As FBI Director, Comey briefed Trump on the Clinton-funded Steele Dossier. He wrote memos documenting their meetings, which he later leaked and used to justify Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation. That probe ignited the Democrats’ lawfare against President Trump, cost taxpayers $32 million and found no Trump collusion with Russia.

He also claimed Trump asked him to drop the investigation into National Security Adviser Gen. Michael Flynn—a claim that deepened the mistrust between them. Shortly thereafter, Trump fired Comey, citing his mishandling of both the Clinton email probe and the Russia investigation, which stemmed directly from the Steele dossier and Comey’s personal memos.

Comey published A Higher Loyalty, branding Trump “morally unfit.” Under his leadership, the FBI abused FISA processes. An Inspector General report found Comey violated FBI policy, though he faced no charges.

There is also widespread belief that former President Barack Obama authorized surveillance of President Trump during the 2016 campaign and post-election transition period—a scandal that remains at the center of ongoing public distrust in the US intelligence community.

Is “86 47” Just a Coincidence?

Comey and his defenders may dismiss the post as a harmless joke or claim it was meaningless. However, intent doesn’t erase context. And in this case, the context is damning. We’re talking about a former FBI Director who was fired by President Trump, helped trigger the Mueller investigation, and built a long track record of partisan, anti-Trump activism.

Comey’s excuse that he didn’t realize the meaning of “86” strains credulity. Are Americans really supposed to believe that a former FBI chief, once in charge of counterintelligence, had no knowledge of a well-known law enforcement and military term commonly used to mean “eliminate” or “kill”? Or that the shells forming “86 47” were arranged that way purely by chance?

With political violence on the rise and the memory of the multiple 2024 Trump assassination attempts still fresh in the minds of Americans, this kind of rhetoric from high-ranking former officials is not just reckless—it’s dangerous and unacceptable.

Comey’s “86 47” Message Echoes in the Streets

The fallout from James Comey’s Instagram post didn’t stop with media backlash—it helped normalize assassination rhetoric that is now being chanted openly by far-left mobs.

On June 14, 2025, the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, Flag Day, and President Trump’s 79th birthday—Washington, D.C. hosted a grand military parade. Anti-American activists attempted to overshadow this patriotic event celebrating the Army by holding nationwide “No Kings” protests. The day featured tens of thousands of far-Left activists marching across the country to denounce what they claim is authoritarian posturing by the Trump administration. Ironically, these protests were even seen in the U.K. where a literal king exists.

As President Trump celebrated the Army’s birthday under military pageantry, anti-Trump protesters aligned with Refuse Fascism and the 50501/Indivisible “No Kings” coalition marched through Washington, D.C., waving signs and chanting “86 47,” the same phrase Comey posted just weeks prior.

READ THE STORY: June 14 Anti-Trump Protests: 50501 and Indivisible Avoid D.C. as Refuse Fascism and HAMAS Mobilize On The Hill

“Anti-Trump protesters with ‘No Kings’ are now blocking the roads to the White House and they are yelling ‘86-47,’ which is a call for the assassination of President Trump,” Laura Loomer posted. “All of these people should be investigated by @SecretService.”

“86 47” Goes from Comey’s Instagram to Blood-Soaked Protest Signs

Footage posted by Loomer Unleashed showed coordinated protesters displaying umbrellas, banners, and signs with the phrase “86-47”—some styled to resemble dripping blood, others mocking Trump with slogans like “Tough on Orange Stains.” At least one protester was seen hanging an “86-47” sign on the White House fence.

“A former FBI Director doesn’t accidentally post death threat slang,” one X user wrote. “If conservatives yelled ‘86 47’ about a Democrat, the FBI would’ve raided their homes by now.”

RELATED: Democrats’ Open Border Obsession Fuels Violence Against Trump and His Supporters

Even more disturbing, the protest coincided with the murder of a Minnesota lawmaker, allegedly by a far-left extremist affiliated with the “No Kings” movement—raising questions about whether this rhetoric is simply protest speech or part of a larger radicalization trend.

“A woman dressed as a clown is holding an umbrella that has ‘86-47’ written on it at the anti-Trump and anti-ICE protest in D.C. today,” Loomer reported. “These protesters are preparing to march to the White House. No Kings protesters started the day by murdering a Minnesota lawmaker at her home.”

“We just spotted a protester carrying an ‘86/47’ poster with writing made to look like dripping blood,” Loomer added. “A No Kings assassin is on the run in Minnesota right now where he just murdered a lawmaker at her house.”

“No Kings” Killer Had Flyers in Car, Confirmed by State Patrol

The anti-Trump protests in Washington, D.C. took a darker turn when news broke that a Minnesota man who murdered two state lawmakers had flyers from the “No Kings” movement in his vehicle.

According to a June 14 report by the New York Post, the Minnesota State Patrol confirmed the discovery of printed “No Kings” materials in the shooter’s car following the double homicide. This ties the same protest movement that chanted “86 47” in front of the White House to a violent domestic terror incident targeting elected officials.

“Minnesota State Patrol reveals ‘No Kings’ flyers in car of suspect who shot two lawmakers.”—New York Post on X

This revelation confirms what many have feared: that violent leftist rhetoric—fueled by influencers like James Comey, amplified by D.C. protest mobs, and ignored by federal authorities—is escalating from slogans to bloodshed.

The American people aren’t just witnessing political unrest. We’re watching the consequences of institutional silence and selective justice. This is no longer about Instagram posts or chants in the streets. Real lives have been lost.

Democrat Congresswoman and NJ Gubernatorial Candidate Headlined “No Kings” Rally Surrounded by ‘86 47’ Signs

On June 14, 2025, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a Democratic candidate for New Jersey governor, took the stage to headline a “No Kings” rally in Morristown, NJ. This was same day “No Kings” protesters chanted “86 47” outside the White House. Rep. Sherrill spoke to a crowd holding signs that echoed the same coded assassination threat aimed at President Trump.

Protesters proudly waved banners reading “NO FAUX KING WAY 86/47” alongside anti-ICE and anti-Trump messages. Many signs mimicked bloodied or revolutionary imagery, including “Democracy Forever 86/47,” directly invoking the viral Comey phrase.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli swiftly condemned the display and demanded that Sherrill publicly denounce the violent rhetoric embraced at her event:

“I’m calling on @MikieSherrill to explicitly and forcefully denounce the ‘86/47’ signs prominently displayed at the Morristown rally she headlined this weekend,” Ciattarelli stated. “She also owes all New Jerseyans an explanation for why she didn’t denounce them immediately on Saturday.” Ciattarelli added, “There must be zero tolerance for political violence. Do better, Mikie.”

Despite the visibility of the signs and growing public concern, Sherrill has yet to issue a statement condemning the rhetoric. This is the Democrat double standard. Rep. Sherrill’s silence reflects a broader pattern of normalization and political tolerance for anti-Trump threats when they originate from the Left.

Another Threat, Another “86 47” Copycat: Former Coast Guard Officer Arrested

Just days after protesters shouted “86 47” outside the White House, federal agents arrested a former Coast Guard officer for threatening to assassinate President Trump. Once again, the same coded language that started with Comey’s Instagram post was at the center.

The New York Post broke the story on June 17, 2025:

“Former Coast Guard officer arrested after allegedly threatening to assassinate Trump: FBI”—New York Post Report

FBI Director Kash Patel responded swiftly, posting on X:

“This is a guy who threatened President Trump’s life using the ‘86 47’ language — the exact kind of copycat law enforcement is now frequently dealing with after former Director Comey’s destructive Instagram debacle.”

Since Comey’s now-deleted Instagram post, law enforcement has tracked a growing wave of threats using “86 47” as a rallying cry. First the signs. Then the chants. Now, arrests. This arrest is further proof that Comey’s “shell post” wasn’t misunderstood—it set off a chain reaction.

James Comey’s unpunished “86 47” rhetoric has escalated from elite innuendo to grassroots threats, influencing both mobs in the streets and individuals in law enforcement’s crosshairs. Protesters echoed the language in public. Violent actors adopted it in private. And federal authorities are left scrambling to respond to the consequences.

Federal officials, including the FBI and DHS, are now dealing with an entire wave of “86 47” threats. The precedent set by Comey’s post continues to endanger national security.

There Must Be Consequences

Comey’s Instagram post, book tour, and shifting explanations reveal a pattern of politicization and provocation. Whether calculated or careless, his actions crossed the line of acceptable political speech. The FBI, DHS, and Secret Service must take these threats seriously. And so must the American people.

The American people deserve accountability from a former intelligence official whose post has inspired real-world violence.

There must be consequences for political violence.

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