Former FBI Director James Comey addressed the backlash over his controversial Instagram post displaying the numbers “86 47” during a Tuesday night appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, denying claims that the post was a veiled threat against President Donald Trump, as per Fox News.
Comey said the post originated during a beach walk with his wife, Patrice, where the couple stumbled upon seashells arranged to form the numbers “86 47.” Comey claimed it was his wife who suggested he photograph the display and share it on social media.
“We stood at it, looked at it, trying to figure out what it was,” Comey told Colbert. “She [Patrice] had long been a server in restaurants and said, ‘You know what I think it is? I think it’s a reference to restaurants when you would 86 something.’”
Comey added his own interpretation: “I remember when I was a kid, you’d say ‘86’ to mean ‘get rid of’ something or leave a place. So I thought it was a clever political message.”
The number “47” is widely understood to represent President Trump, the 47th president of the United States, while “86” is slang for canceling or removing something. The post was widely interpreted by critics — including White House officials and members of Trump’s family — as a call for the president’s assassination, particularly in light of two recent attempts on his life, one of which left a bystander dead and Trump wounded.
Trump sharply condemned the post, saying that “even a child knows” what the message meant. Comey eventually deleted the image after mounting criticism and was subsequently questioned by the Secret Service.
“All they did was act like pros — and they are pros,” Comey said of the agents. “They just said, ‘What did you intend? What did you understand? Why did you do this?’ And I gave them the same explanation, which is the truth. I expect it will go away.”
The former FBI director denied any malicious intent and said the post was misinterpreted.
“It was shells on a beach. It was spontaneous,” he insisted.
Host Stephen Colbert, who joked about his own experience in the service industry, confirmed that “86” can have multiple meanings, including serving low-proof alcohol to intoxicated patrons.
Despite the controversy, Comey appeared unfazed. Colbert concluded the segment by quipping, “Congratulations on making waves with your viral campaign.”
