8647: Did James Comey Just Post a Kill Code for Trump?

Yesterday (Thursday), a seemingly innocuous Instagram post by former FBI Director James Comey unleashed a digital maelstrom, thrusting the number “8647” into the spotlight.

A photo of seashells arranged to form “8647,” captioned “Cool shell formation on my beach walk,” was interpreted by Trump supporters as a coded call to assassinate President Donald Trump, the 47th U.S. President. The backlash was nearly immediate, the post was deleted, and investigations by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Secret Service ensued.

But what does “8647” really mean, and why has it sparked such outrage?

The controversy hinges on a speculative interpretation of the number. In American slang, “86” can mean “to get rid of” or “throw out,” rooted in restaurant lingo for removing an item from the menu or ejecting a disruptive patron.

Since the 1970s, some contexts have extended “86” to imply violence, including “to kill,” though Merriam-Webster notes this usage is recent and not widely adopted. The “47” is widely seen as a reference to Trump, who began his second term in 2025 as the 47th president. Combined, “8647” has been read by critics as a cryptic directive to “eliminate Trump,” a charge amplified by prominent figures like Donald Trump Jr., who accused Comey of “casually calling for my dad to be murdered,” and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who labeled it a direct assassination threat.

Comey was fired by Trump in 2017 as a result of tensions over the FBI’s Russia probe. He quickly deleted the post, claiming he saw the shells as a “political message” and was unaware of violent connotations. “It never occurred to me, but I oppose violence of any kind,” he wrote. Yet, the damage was done. And honestly, to think that he, as a former director of the FBI, didn't know exactly what it meant, is a massive insult to our intelligence.

Social media, particularly X, erupted with theories. Some claimed “8647” has circulated on “lefty social media” as anti Trump code, while another spun an elaborate numerology tale, linking shell colors to a covert assassination plot. Others dismissed the hysteria, arguing “8647 means THROW OUT DONALD TRUMP” without violent intent.

Trump has so far survived two assassination attempts: July 13 in Pennsylvania, where a bullet grazed his ear, and September 15 in Florida, where a suspect was apprehended before firing. Obviously calls to assassinate him (or to try) are therefore concerning.

Those attempts, coupled with increasingly intense political rhetoric, mean that the US shouldn't just brush off such threats as meaningless or 'the talk of a few crazies.'

Posts on X, like those from @libsoftiktok, have flagged “8647” in protests and TikTok videos since March 2025, alleging it signals intent to “kill” Trump, though no evidence links these to organized plots. The Comey post, coming during Trump’s Middle East tour, intensified fears, with White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich calling it a “hit” on a sitting president.

Comey’s history as a Trump critic, including his 2017 firing and subsequent tell-all book, makes him a lightning rod for suspicion, but no concrete evidence suggests he intended harm.

The Secret Service, while investigating, has not confirmed a credible threat, and FBI Director Kash Patel noted primary jurisdiction lies with the Secret Service. Still, figures like Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard warned, “The dangerousness of this cannot be underestimated,” citing prior attempts on Trump’s life.

The “8647” saga points to a deeper malaise: a fractured information landscape where symbols and numbers become battlegrounds. In a post-October 7 world, where Israel’s conflicts and U.S. politics collide, every gesture is parsed for malice.

Whether “8647” is a sinister code or a misunderstood coincidence, its viral spread on X, shared by lawmakers like Senator Mike Lee and Marjorie Taylor Greene, reveals a nation on edge, where trust in institutions frays and speculation fills the void. As investigations unfold, “8647” reminds us: in 2025, even seashells can spark a storm.