Picture this. James Comey, former FBI Director, is strolling along a beach and snaps a photo of seashells that spell “86 47.” He posts it on Instagram with a caption that reads: “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.” An innocent post? Highly unlikely. “86” means “kill” in mafia slang. “47” points to President Donald Trump, 47th president. The post explodes on social media. Trump’s supporters cry foul. The Secret Service picks up Comey and interrogates him. Was this just a quirky meme or a calculated signal to Trump-hating liberal zealots to assassinate Trump?  

Comey knows the lingo. He prosecuted Gambino mobsters. He led the FBI from 2013 to 2017. He knows about the use of the term “86” in backrooms. It means “eliminate” or “get rid of” permanently. Pairing it with “47” was not random. Trump fired Comey in 2017 and he slammed Trump in books and interviews. Comey claims that he “didn’t realize” that “86 47” could sound violent. Really? Comey deleted the post May 15, 2025. He said, “I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. I oppose violence.” Sure, Jim. 

The Secret Service doubted the beachcomber alibi. They interrogated Comey on May 16, 2025. They probed if “86 47” was a threat. Trump responded with righteous indignation on Fox News: “He (Comey) knew exactly what that meant. Assassination. Loud and clear.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blasted on X: “Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey called for assassination of President Trump.” X users demanded accountability. Legal experts cautioned that proving that this was a “true threat” requires clear intent. Comey’s vague seashell meme might escape prosecution. 

Defenders cite “86” as restaurant lingo, meaning “toss out,” but Comey is not a chef. He’s a legal shark.

It suggests canceling Trump politically. Comey has played with fire before. He knew what he was doing. He poked Trump’s supporters, stirred up Trump hating liberals and hid behind free speech. 

It appears that Comey’s post was intentional. Sources whisper indictments against him are looming. Old sins haunt him. Comey pushed the shady Steele dossier, Russian collusion hoax that smeared Trump in 2016. It fueled anti-Trump probes. Comey misled Congress about the dossier’s funding in 2018. He approved Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrants that targeted Trump’s team. In his 2019 report, Michael Horowitz, the DOJ Inspector General, exposed Comey’s FISA errors. Comey leaked Trump memos, violating FBI rules. He was never prosecuted for these crimes by the Obama and Biden administrations, because he is part of the Deep State cabal. 

No charges against Comey have been filed yet. If the Department of Justice (DOJ) tries to indict Comey, it seems likely that he will cry “political lawfare.” He will point to  Trump’s outrage at his “86 47” post as proof that Trump is seeking revenge. It would be a clever move. Comey has dodged bullets before. 

What is Comey’s endgame? It appears that he is taunting Trump and also encouraging  anti-Trump fanatics, those “Trump deranged” types. Comey  is stoking anti-Trump sentiment. This FBI chess master does not post seashell memes for fun. He banks on plausible deniability for his actions. He can play the victim if the law closes in on him. Comey is trying to slip through the net. It seems clear though, that the “86 47” meme was not about seashells. Like a card shark, Comey has something up his sleeve.