The mask has slipped — again. Former FBI Director James Comey is under intense fire after posting what many are calling a thinly veiled threat against President Donald J. Trump on Instagram. The image, which Comey has since deleted, featured an eerie arrangement of seashells forming the numbers “86 47” — a sequence many recognize as a sinister message.
For those unfamiliar: “86” is a long-standing code word for eliminating or “getting rid of” something — or someone. Paired with “47,” a clear reference to President Trump, the 47th president of the United States, the implication becomes impossible to ignore. The caption? A smug, seemingly innocent line: *“Cool shell formation on my beach walk…”*
It didn’t take long for the internet — and national security officials — to catch on. DNI Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democrat who has since become a fierce advocate for law, order, and accountability, didn’t mince words. Appearing on *Jesse Watters Primetime* Thursday night, she tore into Comey’s behavior and called for his arrest.
“This is not a joke. The rule of law says people like him who issue direct threats against the President must be held accountable,” Gabbard said. “I’m very concerned for the president’s life. We’ve already seen attempts on his life. Comey should be behind bars.”
Indeed, this isn’t idle speculation. President Trump has been the target of multiple threats — both verbal and physical — since stepping back into the Oval Office. With the Secret Service already stretched thin, the last thing America needs is a disgraced former FBI director stoking the flames.
After deleting the post, Comey played dumb, claiming ignorance of the meaning behind “86” and saying he opposes violence. But anyone with even a passing knowledge of law enforcement or military slang — two worlds Comey was deeply immersed in — knows exactly what that number implies. Either Comey is being dishonest, or he is unfit for the job he once held.
The Trump administration is taking no chances. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the bureau is working closely with the Secret Service and monitoring the situation. “We are aware of the recent social media post… and we will provide all necessary support,” he said.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich called out Comey directly, pointing to the timing of the message — just as President Trump was overseas delivering a historic speech in Saudi Arabia that signaled the end of the neocon era and the rebirth of America-first diplomacy.
“This is deeply concerning to all of us,” Budowich said. “Democrats must condemn these threats, not stoke them. The Deep State is desperate and dangerous — and Comey is the latest and most disturbing example of that threat.”
The bottom line: this isn’t about seashells or plausible deniability. It’s about a broken bureaucracy and political elites who think they’re above the law. James Comey may have tried to bury his message in the sand, but the American people see it clearly — and they’re not backing down.
