Former FBI Director James Comey’s recent appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” shed light on his controversial social media post. The explanation came after significant backlash from conservatives who interpreted the post as a veiled threat against Trump. Was Comey’s post a coordinated tactic to promote his new book?
The Controversial Post and Its Aftermath
Former FBI Director James Comey appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” to address his controversial “86 47” social media post that many interpreted as a threat against President Donald Trump. The post, which has since been deleted, drew immediate criticism from Trump supporters and prompted an investigation by both the Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service.
Comey explained that the post originated from seashells he and his wife spotted during a beach walk, which they interpreted as carrying political significance. His wife Patrice, who formerly worked as a restaurant server, recognized “86” as industry slang meaning “to get rid of,” while “47” was widely understood to reference Trump the 47th president.
James Comey posts a photo saying "86 47" — that is, get rid of Trump. pic.twitter.com/nlGkGAJl6e
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) May 15, 2025
Restaurant Slang and Political Implications
During the interview, Colbert related to the term “86” from his own experience as a bartender, explaining it’s commonly used to cut off intoxicated customers. Comey further elaborated on his understanding of the term, saying it was something he knew from childhood: “This place stinks, let’s 86 it.”
The term “86” is indeed widely recognized in the restaurant industry and beyond as slang for removing something or someone, as confirmed by the American Dialect Society and Merriam-Webster. Despite this commonly understood meaning, Comey insisted he didn’t realize some people would associate these numbers with violence or threats.
🚨 LMAO! Jesse Watters just sent a correspondent to TROLL James Comey at his book signing
Comey looked so shaken 🤣
"Director Comey, why do you want to 86 Trump?
Will you sign my seashell?! What kind of beaches are you going to with such politically charged messages?" pic.twitter.com/xZDDms74rr
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 21, 2025
Defense and Fallout
Comey defended himself both on the show and previously on Instagram, stating emphatically that he opposes violence of any kind. The Secret Service interviewed Comey following the incident, highlighting the seriousness with which authorities viewed the potential threat implications.
Conservative figures, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, condemned the post as a thinly veiled threat against Trump. The president himself suggested the post implied assassination, contributing to the rapid escalation of the controversy and subsequent law enforcement involvement.
Comey used his appearance not only to explain the controversial post but also to promote his new book, “FDR Drive.” During the interview, he took the opportunity to condemn Trump’s pardoning of January 6 rioters, calling it “an obscenity that will stain this country forever” – a statement that further emphasized the continuing political tensions between the former FBI director and the president.