Former President Donald Trump has stated he will not get involved in ongoing investigations into former FBI Director James Comey, following a social media post from Comey that sparked controversy and allegations of implied threats.
The post in question featured an image of seashells arranged to spell out the numbers 86-47, which many, including former Trump officials, interpreted as a veiled reference to eliminating the 47th president—Trump himself. In slang, “86” is sometimes used to mean “get rid of” or “eliminate.” Comey later deleted the post, claiming he was unaware of the term’s connotations.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump dismissed Comey’s explanation:
“A child knows what that meant. If you’re the FBI director and you don’t know what that meant—that meant assassination. And it says it loud and clear,” Trump said.
Despite the strong accusations, Trump said he would not personally weigh in on potential legal consequences, leaving the matter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and other officials.
“I don’t want to take a position on it because that’s going to be up to Pam and all of the great people. I’m not going to get involved,” Trump added.
Comey, who served under former President Barack Obama, has faced renewed criticism from former FBI colleagues and Trump allies. Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and Trump’s onetime FBI deputy director, accused Comey of “bringing shame to the FBI badge yet again.”
Charles Marino, former Secret Service agent and Homeland Security adviser, also weighed in during an appearance on Fox News, calling Comey’s seashell explanation implausible.
“Nobody is buying his ‘seashells by the seashore’ story… And the problem for James Comey is Democrats are nowhere to be found by his side because his political usefulness for the party has expired,” Marino said.
Legal experts have noted the difficulty of pursuing criminal charges, pointing to First Amendment protections. However, they agree that Comey’s status as a former high-ranking government official makes the case especially sensitive.
While the Department of Justice has not yet publicly announced any charges, the case has reportedly been referred for further review, possibly to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.
Comey has a new book set to release soon, prompting speculation that the post may have been an attempt to stir controversy and drive publicity. Critics argue that the former FBI chief has prioritized personal brand and book sales over public service and institutional integrity.
“There’s got to be a red line,” Marino added. “We’re seeing this line crossed more frequently by former and current public officials. And James Comey needs to know that if it comes in the form of a threat against the president of the United States, it needs to be taken seriously.”
As investigations continue, questions remain about whether the post was merely poor judgment—or something more serious.