MAGA supporters have erupted in anger over a recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey , which they interpreted as a threat against former President Donald Trump. The controversy has reignited a wider debate about the use of coded language in politics after old posts from prominent MAGA figures, including Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and influencer Jack Posobiec, resurfaced and went viral.
Comey posted an image of seashells arranged to spell “8647,” a sequence that many Trump loyalists saw as a veiled call for the assassination of the 47th president. The post rapidly drew fierce backlash from the MAGA movement, with accusations that Comey was openly endorsing violence against Trump.
Following the uproar over Comey’s post, old tweets by prominent MAGA figures resurfaced and went viral, adding fuel to the political fire. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth’s earlier tweet using the phrase “86’d” in reference to political leaders drew renewed attention. Hegseth had used the term to describe ousting Republican figures such as Kevin McCarthy, Tom McDaniel, and Mitch McConnell, implying a purge within the party to make way for better leadership.
Alongside Hegseth’s tweet, Jack Posobiec, a well-known MAGA influencer with a history of spreading conspiracy theories, saw his 2022 post containing the number “8646” go viral again. That code has been widely used on anti-Biden merchandise calling for the impeachment or removal of the former president. Posobiec accused Comey and other national security leaders of “openly calling for the assassination” of President Trump, questioning why Comey had not faced arrest.
When asked about the apparent hypocrisy between Gaetz, Hegseth, and Posobiec’s use of “86” numbers and Comey’s post, Gaetz told The Independent that his tweets referred to past political events, while Comey’s was a call for future violence, which he said made the two situations distinct.
President Trump himself weighed in during an interview with Fox News, condemning Comey’s post. “He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant. That meant assassination,” Trump said. His son, Donald Trump Jr., also attacked Comey, calling him “demented” for what he saw as a call to violence against the former president.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that Comey had been interviewed by the Secret Service as part of an ongoing investigation into the post. FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau was fully supporting the probe. Comey had later delted the post and insisting he had no violent intentions, explaining he believed the seashells were a harmless political message.
Comey posted an image of seashells arranged to spell “8647,” a sequence that many Trump loyalists saw as a veiled call for the assassination of the 47th president. The post rapidly drew fierce backlash from the MAGA movement, with accusations that Comey was openly endorsing violence against Trump.
Following the uproar over Comey’s post, old tweets by prominent MAGA figures resurfaced and went viral, adding fuel to the political fire. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth’s earlier tweet using the phrase “86’d” in reference to political leaders drew renewed attention. Hegseth had used the term to describe ousting Republican figures such as Kevin McCarthy, Tom McDaniel, and Mitch McConnell, implying a purge within the party to make way for better leadership.
Alongside Hegseth’s tweet, Jack Posobiec, a well-known MAGA influencer with a history of spreading conspiracy theories, saw his 2022 post containing the number “8646” go viral again. That code has been widely used on anti-Biden merchandise calling for the impeachment or removal of the former president. Posobiec accused Comey and other national security leaders of “openly calling for the assassination” of President Trump, questioning why Comey had not faced arrest.
When asked about the apparent hypocrisy between Gaetz, Hegseth, and Posobiec’s use of “86” numbers and Comey’s post, Gaetz told The Independent that his tweets referred to past political events, while Comey’s was a call for future violence, which he said made the two situations distinct.
President Trump himself weighed in during an interview with Fox News, condemning Comey’s post. “He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant. That meant assassination,” Trump said. His son, Donald Trump Jr., also attacked Comey, calling him “demented” for what he saw as a call to violence against the former president.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that Comey had been interviewed by the Secret Service as part of an ongoing investigation into the post. FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau was fully supporting the probe. Comey had later delted the post and insisting he had no violent intentions, explaining he believed the seashells were a harmless political message.
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