When you think of Taylor Swift, what do you think of her? For some people, she is a multiple award-winning singer. For some, she is “El Travador,” Travis Kelce’s girlfriend. But no one would have her support a guy who seemingly wanted President Trump dead.
And yet…in a nation still shaken by two assassination attempts on President Donald Trump in 2024, every word from a public figure carries the weight of a sledgehammer. So when James Comey, the former FBI Director, posted a photo of seashells arranged to spell “86 47” on Instagram last May, captioned as a “cool shell formation,” supporters of Trump across America and the world felt a chill.
For those who’ve watched Trump battle relentless verbal and physical attacks, the message was unmistakable: “86,” slang for “get rid of” or worse, paired with “47,” was clearly a nod to Trump as our 47th president. Comey, a man once entrusted with upholding law and order, claims it was an innocent mistake. But in a climate where threats loom larger than ever, can we afford such carelessness from someone of his stature?
READ MORE: Wait, What? Did James Comey Just Threaten to ‘Get Rid of’ President Trump?
His reckless post demands accountability—not excuses—and reminds us why public safety must come first. Comey’s history as FBI Director from 2013 to 2017, before Trump fired him amid the Russia hoax investigation, makes his actions all the more jarring. This isn’t just any citizen snapping fake beach photos. This is a man who once led the nation’s top law enforcement agency, fully aware of how words and symbols can ignite chaos. When he posted “86 47,” he wasn’t just sharing a quirky A.I. prompt; he was tossing a match into a tinderbox. President Trump, speaking on Fox News, didn’t mince words: “He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant.” And Trump’s not alone in his outrage.
I still can’t believe that James Comey didn’t IMMEDIATELY go to Prison for this. pic.twitter.com/YK5eqz6Hrc
— Liz Churchill (@liz_churchill10) August 17, 2025
From Donald Trump Jr. to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to anyone with half a brain— all saw the post for what it looked like: a coded threat. Noem took to X, stating, “Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of @POTUS Trump.” The Secret Service, rightly, launched a probe on May 16, 2025, to investigate. Comey’s defense?
James Comey talking about what an inspirational figure Taylor Swift is.
The most vicious sociopaths in our society now are all Beta males, inflicting their revenge on the world because they were picked last for kickball.
— john jackson (@pvtjokerus) August 17, 2025
Now, a rambling, crazy person that is James Comey, in a video at a Manhattan book event for his crime novel “FDR Drive,” has popped up, wherein he bizarrely pivoted to calling himself a “Swiftie.” “I’m a Swiftie, I should say. I don’t know if I’m allowed to say that without getting in trouble,” he quipped, as if a nod to Taylor Swift could defuse the gravity of a Secret Service investigation.
READ MORE: Yikes: Bizarre Video From James Comey About Trump and Taylor Swift Is Maximum Cringe
Morning Minute: I Don’t Know If Jim Comey’s Lost in an ‘Arctic Haze,’ but He’s Sure Gotten Weird
He claimed he didn’t realize “86” could be linked to violence, despite Cassell’s Dictionary of Slang noting its violent connotations since the 1970s. For a man of Comey’s experience, this strains credulity. His novel, ironically, deals with themes of misinterpreted speech and incitement—yet he seems blind to the real-world parallels of his own actions.
This was painful – literally painful to watch. I had to stop. Just do not give a continental shit about Comey being a Swiftie. The question is why make this humiliating video? What could he possibly hope to gain? https://t.co/hL1CYd7cCu
— Lara Logan (@laralogan) August 17, 2025
This isn’t merely tone-deaf; it’s a dangerous talking point from someone who should know better. Leading voices have been swift and united in their response. FBI Director Kash Patel, Trump’s pick to clean up the agency Comey once led, joined Noem and others in condemning the post. Tulsi Gabbard even called for Comey’s imprisonment, reflecting the depth of concern among those who see Trump as a target of relentless political attacks.
And they’re not wrong at all to worry. Trump’s survival of two assassination attempts, one in July 2024, another in September, has heightened the stakes. Every public figure, especially one with Comey’s platform, has a duty to tread carefully.
His claim on Instagram that “I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence” feels like a flimsy excuse, especially when his own book tour comments show he knew the post could be seen as political. In a nation where trust in institutions hangs by a thread, public figures must model restraint, not recklessness.
Comey’s past clashes with Trump, from his firing to his role in the Russia hoax probe, don’t justify flirting with symbols that scream danger. Social media isn’t a playground; it’s a microphone, and Comey’s post amplified the wrong message at the worst time.
Yet the Secret Service is doing its job on this disgraced FBI head, investigating potential threats with the seriousness they deserve. But this moment calls for more than probes; it calls for a broader commitment to public safety over mindless and harmful rhetoric. America’s strength lies in its people, not in reckless posts that flirt with danger. James Comey’s “86 47” stunt, however he spins it, reminds us that words matter, or, like El Rushbo himself, Rush Limbaugh, would always say: Words have meaning — especially from those once entrusted with our safety.
Any sane person should know to champion law and order, and that starts with holding public figures accountable. President Trump, our 47th president, deserves protection, not veiled threats from a disgraced ex-FBI chief. No more excuses, no more deflections and double talk. The Secret Service is doing its part; let’s make sure to keep our due diligence and call out the haters and losers. Also, Mr. Comey, please stop trying to act like the unhip adult in a John Hughes movie.
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