Former FBI director James Comey is being criticized for a post on social media: what does «86 47» mean?
16 may 2025 в 17:13
James Comey, former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, faced criticism from Republicans over a deleted social media post he shared earlier this week. The photo contained numbers that formed the words «86 47», - which some interpreted as a mockery of Donald Trump. So what does «86 47» mean?
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard criticized Comey on Thursday, May 15, in an interview with Fox News, accusing him of «incitement» against Trump.
«When we had two assassination attempts on the president, when people turn to people like Comey, who have been elevated by MSNBC and the Democratic elite and CNN as the epitome of honesty — the law and order guy, the guy who will tell the truth regardless of the consequences — this is the one who incites to kill President Trump, the president who was voted for by Americans», - Gabbard said. «So, it’s guys like Comey and others who call the president a modern-day Nazi, people in influential positions who say that President Trump poses a significant threat to our country».
Find out below how Comey responded to the criticism, and learn what the term «86» means.
In a now-deleted Instagram post, Comey shared a photo of seashells forming the numbers «86 47». The former FBI director captioned the post: «Cool formation of seashells on my beach walk».
In response to the outrage, Comey clarified in a subsequent Instagram post on Thursday, May 15: «It never occurred to me that some people associate these numbers with violence. It never occurred to me, but I am against any violence, so I deleted the post».
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, «86» is a common slang term for «to reject», - «to throw out», - or «to get rid of». The dictionary also notes that the term can mean «to kill». For example, someone might say, «They 86'd that guy from the bar».
Republicans claimed that Comey’s post could be incitement to violence against Trump. Since he is the 47th president of the United States, some accused Comey of wanting to «86» the 47th president.
Comey served as FBI director from 2013 to 2017, when he was fired by Trump. During that time, Comey was investigating Russia’s interference in the 2016 election
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard criticized Comey on Thursday, May 15, in an interview with Fox News, accusing him of «incitement» against Trump.
«When we had two assassination attempts on the president, when people turn to people like Comey, who have been elevated by MSNBC and the Democratic elite and CNN as the epitome of honesty — the law and order guy, the guy who will tell the truth regardless of the consequences — this is the one who incites to kill President Trump, the president who was voted for by Americans», - Gabbard said. «So, it’s guys like Comey and others who call the president a modern-day Nazi, people in influential positions who say that President Trump poses a significant threat to our country».
Find out below how Comey responded to the criticism, and learn what the term «86» means.
In a now-deleted Instagram post, Comey shared a photo of seashells forming the numbers «86 47». The former FBI director captioned the post: «Cool formation of seashells on my beach walk».
In response to the outrage, Comey clarified in a subsequent Instagram post on Thursday, May 15: «It never occurred to me that some people associate these numbers with violence. It never occurred to me, but I am against any violence, so I deleted the post».
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, «86» is a common slang term for «to reject», - «to throw out», - or «to get rid of». The dictionary also notes that the term can mean «to kill». For example, someone might say, «They 86'd that guy from the bar».
Republicans claimed that Comey’s post could be incitement to violence against Trump. Since he is the 47th president of the United States, some accused Comey of wanting to «86» the 47th president.
Comey served as FBI director from 2013 to 2017, when he was fired by Trump. During that time, Comey was investigating Russia’s interference in the 2016 election
© Smirnova Olga
