James Comey’s attempt to explain away his now-infamous “86 47” social media post has only deepened the controversy, as critics continue to question both his judgment and intent. The former FBI Director, once cast as a paragon of institutional credibility, appeared this week on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to offer what many see as a clumsy and unconvincing justification for a post that was widely interpreted as a call to “take out” President Donald Trump, the 47th president of the United States.
Comey claimed that the phrase “86 47”—which he posted via a beach photo of seashells arranged into the phrase—was meant harmlessly, as a cheeky political jab. “When I was a kid, you would say ‘86’ to get out of a place,” Comey told Colbert. “This place stinks, let’s 86 it.” Colbert gamely backed him up, invoking his days as a bartender, where “86” meant cutting off intoxicated customers.
But while both men tried to play the phrase off as restaurant lingo or nostalgic slang, the context—targeting a sitting president with a phrase often associated with removal or elimination—wasn’t lost on many Americans. Especially given that “86” has long had a second, more sinister meaning: to “eliminate,” “cancel,” or “kill.”
James Comey posts a photo saying “86 47” — that is, get rid of Trump. pic.twitter.com/nlGkGAJl6e
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) May 15, 2025
Comey’s wife Patrice also entered the conversation, recounting how they both saw the message in the sand during a beach walk and interpreted it as a “clever political message.” It was she, Comey said, who recognized the “86” reference from her time as a restaurant server.
But rather than strengthen his case, the casual anecdote only further undermined the seriousness of the situation—as though two political veterans, both well aware of the national climate, could stumble upon a loaded phrase without appreciating its implications.
Comey later confirmed that the Secret Service contacted him over the post—a rare step underscoring how seriously the matter is being taken. Though he has since deleted the post, his explanation on Instagram—“I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence”—rings hollow for many. As a man who once led the most powerful domestic law enforcement agency in the world, it’s hard to believe he wasn’t aware of the multiple connotations of the phrase “86,” especially when paired so clearly with “47.”
The backlash has been swift, and not only from conservatives. Political neutrality and restraint—once foundational to the FBI’s public image—have been repeatedly called into question since Comey’s post-bureau career began, and this latest stunt only reinforces the perception of a once-institutional figure turned partisan actor.
Comey’s defenders insist the post was just a misread joke. But his critics see it as something far more serious: a coded message cloaked in plausible deniability, from a man who should have known better—and probably did.
