On Thursday evening, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said former FBI Director James Comey should be thrown in jail for a social media post widely seen as threatening President Donald Trump.
Gabbard told Fox News host Jesse Watters that she “absolutely” did not buy Comey’s claim that he did not realize that a photo he posted to Instagram of shells on a beach showing “86” and “47” had anything to do with violence.
“I’m very concerned for [Trump’s] life. And James Comey, in my view, should be held accountable and put behind bars for this,” Gabbard said.
James Comey just issued a call to action to murder the President of the United States.
As a former FBI Director and someone who spent most of his career prosecuting mobsters and gangsters, he knew exactly what he was doing and must be held accountable under the full force of the… pic.twitter.com/zvbu5Vf0zg
— DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) May 16, 2025
Comey, who was cast out as FBI director by Trump in 2017 and has been critical of the president over the years, drew controversy earlier in the day when he posted the photo of shells arranged to show “86” and “47” on a beach.
“Cool shell formation on my beach walk,” Comey said.
Many people interpreted the photo as referencing assassination because “86” is used as slang for kill and Trump is the 47th president. Others have defended Comey, contending that “86” could simply mean removal.
Comey deleted the photo and, in a follow-up post, insisted he did not mean to suggest anything drastic.
“I posted a picture earlier of some shells I saw on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message,” Comey said. “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.”
Still, FBI Director Kash Patel announced that the bureau that Comey once led was looking into the matter.
“We are aware of the recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey, directed at President Trump. We are in communication with the Secret Service and Director Curran. Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support,” Patel said on X.
People have been arrested and charged for allegedly threatening Gabbard and Trump. Last year, during the 2024 campaign, Trump survived two assassination attempts.
Gabbard suggested that Comey should face consequences regardless of what he was thinking.
“Whatever James Comey’s intent, he and people like him need to be held to account according to the law, which is something that he claims to have given his life for and stands by the rule of law. Fantastic,” Gabbard said. “The rule of law says people like him, who issue direct threats against the president of the United States — essentially issuing a call to assassinate him — must be held accountable under the law.”
