James Comey, the former FBI Director dismissed by Donald Trumpduring his first term, is under fire for a cryptic social media post that some are interpreting as a veiled threat against the current president.

The controversy began when Comey shared a photo of seashells arranged to form the number "8647" on Instagram, with the caption: “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.

” Though the post has since been deleted, screenshots have circulated widely and drawn fierce condemnation from Trump supporters, members of Congress, and former government officials.Donald Trump Jr. accused Comey of "casually calling for my dad to be murdered," while figures such as Meghan McCain and Kristi Noem described the post as deeply troubling and worthy of investigation. The US Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security have confirmed they are reviewing the matter, with the FBI also stating it is providing support.

Comey, who has long been a critic of Trump, later clarified that he did not realise the image could be interpreted as a threat and removed it, insisting he opposes violence of any kind.

The meaning of "8647" has stirred alarm, particularly among conservative figures. In slang, especially in criminal or service industry contexts, “86” can mean to eliminate or discard. When paired with “47” a number associated with Donald Trump as the 47th president some interpret it as a call to remove or harm him.

The combination has become a subtle code in online spaces hostile to Trump. Comey, in a follow-up post, said he assumed the shells were arranged as a political message but did not understand the possible violent connotations.

“It never occurred to me,” he wrote, “but I oppose violence of any kind.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the department and the Secret Service are investigating. “Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of @POTUS Trump,” she wrote on X.

“DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately.”Comey has since issued a clarification. In a new Instagram post, he wrote that he noticed the shell formation during a walk and assumed it was a political message, but was unaware of the violent associations others might attach to the numbers. “It never occurred to me, but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down,” he said.

The FBI, under current Director Kash Patel, confirmed it is in contact with the Secret Service, which has primary jurisdiction over such matters. While there’s no indication yet of legal action, the episode underscores the hyper-politicised climate surrounding Trump’s presidency — and how even beach photos can spiral into full-scale federal investigations.Calls for Comey’s arrest have even surfaced on social media. Congressman Tim Burchett posted simply: “Arrest Comey..”