Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is demanding that former FBI Director James Comey face serious legal consequences after he posted a cryptic image on Instagram that many believe was a veiled threat against President Donald Trump. The image, which Comey has since deleted, showed seashells arranged to spell out “8647”—a combination widely interpreted to mean “eliminate 47,” referencing Trump as the 47th President of the United States.
Comey initially brushed off the post as nothing more than a “cool shell formation” from a beach walk, claiming ignorance of the number’s connotation. But the backlash was immediate and intense, particularly from Trump allies and officials within the administration who saw the message as anything but innocent.
Gabbard, appearing in a televised interview, expressed deep concern and anger over the post, especially in the context of past threats and a recent assassination attempt targeting President Trump. “I’m very concerned for his life,” Gabbard said. “And James Comey, in my view, should be held accountable and put behind bars for this.”
James Comey just issued a call to action to murder the President of the United States.
As a former FBI Director and someone who spent most of his career prosecuting mobsters and gangsters, he knew exactly what he was doing and must be held accountable under the full force of the… pic.twitter.com/zvbu5Vf0zg
— DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) May 16, 2025
The Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security have both confirmed they are investigating the incident. FBI Director Kash Patel is reportedly cooperating with the inquiry, which is focused on whether Comey’s post constitutes a threat or incitement under federal law.
This latest episode is yet another flashpoint in the long-running tensions between Comey and Trump. Comey was fired in 2017 after overseeing an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election—a probe that many conservatives believe was politically motivated from the start.
Legal experts remain divided over whether the post rises to the level of a prosecutable offense. While some downplay it as careless or tasteless, others argue that coming from a former top law enforcement official, the message carries far more weight and cannot be dismissed as a mere coincidence.
Regardless of the legal outcome, the message from Tulsi Gabbard is clear: political elites and former officials don’t get a free pass when they send signals that could be interpreted as calls for violence—especially when aimed at the President of the United States. The American people, she said, deserve better than thinly veiled threats disguised as beach art.
