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What does 8647 mean? James Comey and his controversial post
What does 8647 mean? What is the meaning of James Comey's post? These are two trending Google searches
What does 8647 mean? What is the meaning of James Comey’s post? These are two trending Google searches after former FBI Director James Comey shared an Instagram image that many interpreted as a veiled threat against former President Donald Trump. The seemingly innocent post sparked immediate reactions in political and media circles, with calls for a federal investigation and accusations of inciting violence.
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What did James Comey post and why did it cause controversy?
On Thursday, Comey posted a photograph of seashells arranged on the sand forming the number “8647.” The image was captioned: “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.” Although it appeared trivial, the number carried highly symbolic meaning: “86” is American slang for “getting rid of” or even “eliminating,” and “47” refers to the 47th president of the United States — that is, Donald Trump, who assumed the title after running for office a second time.
The former director deleted the post hours later and explained on Instagram: “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.”
What is the meaning of 8647 and why is it controversial?
The number “8647” has been interpreted by some groups, especially Trump supporters, as a political code. The term “86” has historically been used in restaurant slang to refer to removing an item from the menu or denying service. However, in darker contexts, it has been interpreted to mean “kill” or “eliminate.”
The number “47,” on the other hand, directly refers to Donald Trump as the 47th president, a title he himself has promoted during his campaign rhetoric. Combining the two numbers, some users — including Republican Party members — claimed the message was a call to violence.
Who has accused Comey of threatening Trump?
The reaction was immediate. Donald Trump Jr. wrote on social media: “Just James Comey casually calling for my dad to be murdered. This is who the Dem-Media worships. Demented!!!!”
Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, also responded quickly: “Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of @POTUSTrump. DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately.”
Former President Donald Trump himself commented on Fox News: “A child knows what that meant. If you’re the FBI director and you don’t know … that meant ‘assassination.’ And it says it loud and clear.”
What do the authorities say about the investigation?
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi confirmed the agency is aware of the post and stated: “The Secret Service vigorously investigates anything that can be taken as a potential threat against our protectees.”
Current FBI Director Kash Patel said on social media that the agency would support the Secret Service: “Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support.”
Has the use of “86” appeared in U.S. politics before?
The number “86” has appeared in political discourse before. In 2018, restaurant staff in Virginia wrote “86 Sarah Huckabee Sanders” after she was asked to leave for working with Trump — a note that went viral as a political statement.
In 2020, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer was seen in an interview wearing a pin with the number “8645,” interpreted as a reference to Trump as the 45th president and a desire to remove him.
The combination “8647” has been seen on protest signs and in TikTok posts recently as a way of expressing opposition to Trump without issuing an explicit call to violence.
Comey and Trump: a tense relationship
James Comey was fired by Donald Trump in May 2017 while he was leading an FBI investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. His dismissal was widely criticized and marked a turning point in their already strained relationship.
Since then, Comey has been one of the former president’s harshest critics, while Trump has described the former director as “grandstanding” and a “showboat.”
