Federal officials are currently investigating a now-deleted tweet from former FBI Director James Comey that many believe may have been a veiled threat toward former President Donald Trump.
The tweet featured a photo of seashells arranged to display the numbers “86 47.” While it may seem harmless at first glance, some interpreted the message as coded language—“86” being slang for “eliminate” and “47” referring to Trump, who is campaigning to become the 47th president of the United States.
FBI official Kash Patel confirmed that the agency is working with the Secret Service to look into the post. Meanwhile, Comey has claimed he was unaware of any hidden meaning behind the numbers.
The post sparked backlash from several public figures, including Trump himself, Tulsi Gabbard, and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. They criticized the tweet as an irresponsible and potentially dangerous message—especially coming from someone with a deep background in law enforcement.
Critics argue that someone with Comey’s experience should have recognized the possible interpretation of the message. For now, an official investigation is underway to determine whether the post was a serious threat or simply a misunderstanding.