Former FBI Director, James Comey, had an interaction with agents from the Secret Service last week about a social media post which many perceived as a threat towards President Trump. Despite Comey’s insistence that it was intended to be a political statement, the backlash over the perceived threat led the Department of Homeland Security to take action.
Kristi Noem, the Secretary of the DHS, announced on social media that Comey was being questioned about his post, which was seen by some as a call for the assassination of Trump. She committed to doing everything within her power to ensure Trump’s safety. Officially, the investigation surrounding Comey’s social media post is ongoing.
Though Comey is known for his criticism of Trump, he removed the controversial image — displaying shells shaped into ‘8647’ — fairly rapidly. He emphasized that the arrangement was not intended as an endorsement of any form of violence. He took to Instagram, expressing that he was unaware of the violent connotations that some associated with the numeric phrase.
However, President Trump had a differing view, indicating in a Fox News interview that he believed Comey had full knowledge of the post’s implications. Trump argued that even a child would understand the sinister connotations and interpreted the post as a veiled threat towards his life.
Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, expressed deep concern about the possibility of an attempt on Trump’s life, given that he has already been targeted twice before. Gabbard proposed that Comey be held accountable for his actions, and suggested pushing for legal steps that could lead to Comey’s imprisonment.
During the 2024 Presidential campaign, Trump endured two assassination attempts. The first occurred at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he suffered injury after a sniper targeted him from a nearby building, only to be neutralized by the Secret Service. The second attempt involved a man trying to target the President at a golf event in Florida, the assailant was subsequently arrested.
The phrase ‘eighty-six’ or ’86’, strewn into public discourse by restaurant workers, represents a refusal to cater to a specific customer or item. It can also mean the discontinuation or rejection of something, as per Merriam-Webster’s dictionary. Originating in the 1930s, the term remains in usage to date.
Notably, Republican politicians have incorporated the term ’86’ in their social media posts. For instance, Matt Gaetz, a former Republican congressman from Florida, used the expression in a post while commenting on the departures of key figures from the Republican party’s leadership.
Gaetz’s tweet alluded to the exit of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, ex-Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel, and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell. They were effectively ’86’d’ from their roles, signaling change within the Republican Party.
Gaetz differentiated his own usage of ’86’ from Comey’s in an interview with the Independent. He stated that his post spoke of past events, while Comey appeared to be advocating for a future occurrence. He maintained that these contexts set the two uses apart.
Back in 2022, conservative activist Jack Posobiec also used the term ’86’ in a post, referring possibly to Joe Biden, who was the 46th President. When approached for comments on his post by the Independent, Posobiec didn’t respond.
The post Investigation Underway as Comey’s Social Media Post Stirs Controversy appeared first on Real News Now.
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