President Donald Trump lashed out Friday in opposition to ex-FBI Director James Comey over an Instagram submit that contained a picture that high Trump officers claimed was a risk.
In a now-deleted Instagram submit, Comey confirmed a photograph of “8647” written in seashells in sand, with the caption “Cool shell formation on my seashore stroll.”
Some far-right allies of Trump, together with Laura Loomer, have alleged that Comey is looking for violence in opposition to the president.
To “86” one thing, nevertheless, has pretty broad interpretations as a slang time period — and might merely imply to nix or “get rid”of’ one thing, in line with Merriam-Webster.
Comey stated he figured the message within the shells’ placement was political however that he did not understand it referred to as for violence in opposition to Trump.
“It by no means occurred to me however I oppose violence of any variety,” Comey stated in one other submit on Instagram.
President Donald Trump attends a enterprise discussion board in Abu Dhabi, Could 16, 2025.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP through Getty Photographs
Trump, nevertheless, in an interview besides aired Friday, informed Fox Information’ “Particular Report with Bret Baier” that he would not purchase Comey’s rationalization.
“He knew precisely what that meant. A toddler is aware of what that meant. In case you’re the FBI director and you do not know what that meant, that meant assassination,” the president stated.
Trump fired Comey in his first administration, and the president claimed Comey nonetheless has an ax to grind.
“Effectively, he apologized as a result of he was hit — he is a really unhealthy man,” Trump stated.
President Donald Trump talking throughout a roundtable dialogue on tax coverage in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., April 5, 2018, left, and former FBI director James Comey talking throughout a Senate Intelligence Committee listening to on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 8, 2017.
Evan Vucci | Andrew Harnik/AP
David Kelley, an lawyer representing Comey, declined to touch upon the matter.
The president didn’t take a place on whether or not Comey, whom he labeled a “soiled cop,” needs to be investigated, saying he would defer to Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi.
Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem stated Thursday in an X submit that the U.S. Secret Service was wanting into Comey’s submit.
“Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey simply referred to as for the assassination of @POTUS Trump,” she stated.
A spokesman for the U.S. Secret Service stated the company is conscious of the posts and it takes “rhetoric like this very significantly.”
“The Secret Service vigorously investigates something that may be taken as a possible risk in opposition to our protectees,” Anthony Guglielm stated in an announcement.
The Secret Service was anticipated to interview Comey on Friday, sources conversant in the matter stated, and Noem confirmed that evening that brokers from the Secret Service interviewed him in regards to the submit.
Derek Mayer, the previous Secret Service deputy particular agent in command of the Chicago Discipline Workplace, informed ABC Information that an investigation would probably embrace an interview of the topic who made the risk.
“The Secret Service would additionally interview shut associates of the topic to find out if the particular person has had any speedy change or decline of their psychological well being, entry to weapons, journey standing and total effectively being,” he stated.
The Secret Service has declined to remark.
FBI Director Kash Patel additionally stated he was conscious of the submit and was offering assist to Noem’s efforts.
Former FBI Director James Comey speaks at Harvard Kennedy College with Harvard’s Eric Rosenbach on February 24, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Paul Marotta/Getty Photographs
Director of Nationwide Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard referred to as for Comey to be imprisoned.
“Some other particular person with a place of affect that he has, individuals who take very significantly what a man of his stature, his expertise and what the propaganda media has constructed him as much as be, I am very involved for the president’s life,” she informed Fox Information host Jesse Waters.
She stated Comey needs to be put “behind bars.”
ABC Information’ Jack Date and Katherine Faulders contributed to this report.
