Comey Under Fire for ‘86 47’ Message Aimed at President Trump

Comey Under Fire for ‘86 47’ Message Aimed at President Trump. Former FBI Director James Comey recently sparked controversy with an Instagram post featuring seashells arranged to spell out 86 47. The post, which has since been deleted, was widely interpreted as a political statement targeting President Donald Trump, the 47th U.S. president. What Does "86 47" Mean? "86": This term originates from 1930s American restaurant slang, meaning to remove or eliminate something. Over time, it has evolved to imply rejecting or getting rid of someone or something. "47": Refers to Donald Trump, who is serving as the 47th president of the United States. Combined, "86 47" has been interpreted by some as a call to get rid of President Trump. The post drew immediate backlash from Trump and his allies. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem labeled it as an incitement to violence, and the Secret Service initiated an investigation. Trump accused Comey of calling for his assassination, stating, If you are the FBI director and you do not know what that meant, that meant assassination. Comey responded by deleting the post and clarifying that he was unaware of any violent connotations associated with the phrase. He stated, "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. The incident has led to a federal investigation, with the Secret Service interviewing Comey. Additionally, House Republicans have introduced a resolution condemning Comey for "incitement of violence against President Donald J. Trump" and urging that he be barred from future federal employment. The use of "86" in political discourse is not unprecedented. For example, in 2020, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer displayed a pin reading "86 45," referring to removing the 45th president, Donald Trump, from office. Such expressions have been interpreted variably, often depending on political perspectives. The "86 47" controversy underscores the complexities of political expression and interpretation in today's polarized climate.