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Gabbard says Comey should be 'put behind bars' after picture allegedly 'issuing a call to assassinate' Trump
By Elizabeth Pritchett
Published May 16, 2025
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said ex-FBI Director James Comey should be "put behind bars" for a post he made on Instagram on Thursday allegedly "issuing a call to assassinate [President Donald Trump.]"
Earlier on Thursday, Comey shared a picture on Instagram with seashells formed in the numbers "86 47." To some, the number "86" is a call sign for murdering or getting rid of someone or something and "47" is typically used to refer to the 47th President of the United States.
"Cool shell formation on my beach walk…," Comey wrote in the caption of the picture, which has since been deleted.
Gabbard made the comments on "Jesse Watters Primetime" Thursday night after Comey said he wasn't aware that the number "86" stands for some sort of violence.
National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard said ex-FBI Director James Comey should be in jail for posting an Instagram photo of the numbers "86 47," which has been interpreted as a threat to Trump. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
"I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message," Comey said after deleting the initial picture. "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."
Gabbard said Comey and his people "need to be held to account according to the law" regardless of why he said he posted the picture.
"The rule of law says people like him who issue direct threats against the POTUS, essentially issuing a call to assassinate him, must be held accountable under the law," Gabbard said, adding that she thinks he should be in jail.
Ex-FBI Director James Comey posted an Instagram photo of seashells arranged in the numbers "86 47" – which has been interpreted as a threat on President Donald Trump's life. (AP)
The national intelligence director said Comey's post has her "very concerned for [the president's life.]"
"I'm very concerned for the president's life; we've already seen assassination attempts. I'm very concerned for his life and James Comey, in my view, should be held accountable and put behind bars for this," she said.
'NEVER TRUMPER' COMEY'S '86 47' TRUMP POST UNDER INVESTIGATION
Gabbard also said Comey has a lot of influence and that there are "people who take [him] very seriously."
Shortly after Comey removed the post, Fox News Digital learned from a Secret Service source that the agency was aware of the incident and agents are being sent to investigate and interview Comey.
The White House also condemned Comey's actions, with White House deputy chief of staff and Cabinet Secretary Taylor Budowich calling his post "deeply concerning."
"While President Trump is currently on an international trip to the Middle East, the former FBI Director puts out what can clearly be interpreted as ‘a hit’ on the sitting President of the United States — a message etched in the sand," Budowich wrote on X. "This is deeply concerning to all of us and is being taken seriously."
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Comey, who led the FBI during Trump's first term before he was fired from the spot, had no comment when reached by Fox News Digital earlier on Thursday.
Fox News Digital's Alec Schemmel and David Spunt contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gabbard-says-comey-should-put-behind-bars-after-picture-allegedly-issuing-call-assassinate-trump