What Kash Patel said on former FBI director James Comey's '8647' message calling to 'kill Donald Trump'

Former FBI director James Comey deleted the Instagram photo of seashells that spelled the numbers '8647' which he posted as a "cool shell formation" on his beach walk. But looking deeper, it was interpreted as a call to assassinate President Donald Trump as the number 86 stands for 'getting rid of' and 47 refers to the 47th president -- Donald Trump.

Kash Patel, the Indian-origin FBI director, issued a statement on the cryptic message and said his agency is in communication with the Secret Service which is investigating the matter.

"We are aware of the recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey, directed at President Trump. We are in communication with the Secret Service and Director Curran. Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support," Kash Patel said.

We are aware of the recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey, directed at President Trump. We are in communication with the Secret Service and Director Curran. Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support.

— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) May 15, 2025

What does '86' mean?

According to the dictionary site Merriam-Webster, “86” means to "to throw out,” or “get rid of,” and derives from a 1930s slang term for “sold out.” USA Today said the use of “86” as a verb is said to originate with the celebrated pub Chumley’s in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, which stood on 86 Bedford St and was known for tossing its drunken patrons out into the street when they became disorderly – or “86-ing” them.

"To Kill" is a more modern usage of the term but Merriam-Webster's Dictionary said that it is not extensively used to mean that.

Comey says it was a political message but he did not mean any violence

Comey, who was fired by Trump in 2017, said he did not mean 'assassination' but he assumed that this was a political message -- to get rid of Donald Trump administration.

“I posted earlier 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," Comey posted his clarification.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Comey should be jailed for the post which was highly concerning especially since Trump had already faced two assassination attempts on his life.