Diyar Guldogan
17 May 2025•Update: 17 May 2025
WASHINGTON
The US Secret Service interviewed former FBI Director James Comey on Friday for a social media post he is accused of calling for President Donald Trump's assassination, according to an official.
"Today, federal agents from @SecretService interviewed disgraced former FBI Director Comey regarding a social media post calling for the assassination of President Trump," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on X.
Her remarks came one day after Comey posted a photo on Instagram showing seashells arranged in the formation “86 47” with the caption: “Cool shell formation on my beach walk."
The term "86" has been colloquially associated with eliminating something or someone. The Merriam-Webster dictionary has defined it as a refusal “to serve (a customer)" or to "get rid of" or "throw out" someone or something. Meanwhile, “47” is seen as a reference to Trump -- the 47th president of the US.
Although Comey quickly deleted the photo, it was widely shared on social media.
Noem said she would continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of Trump.
"This is an ongoing investigation," she added.
Comey later shared a statement on Instagram insisting that it was a mistake.
"I posted 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," he wrote.
Trump also accused Comey of calling for his assassination.
"He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant. If you're the FBI director and you don't know what that meant, that meant assassination," Trump told Fox News.
