Fact Check: "James Comey called for the assassination of President Trump."
What We Know
The claim that James Comey called for the assassination of President Trump stems from a now-deleted Instagram post in which Comey shared a photo of seashells arranged to form the numbers "86 47." The caption read, "Cool shell formation on my beach walk" (source-1). Some individuals, including Trump and his allies, interpreted this post as a coded message suggesting violence against the president. Trump stated in an interview that "a child knows what that meant" and asserted that Comey intended to convey a message of assassination (source-2).
In response to the backlash, Comey clarified that he did not intend for the post to imply violence and stated, "It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind" (source-3). Following the incident, the U.S. Secret Service indicated that they were investigating the post, taking any potential threats seriously (source-2).
Analysis
The interpretation of Comey's post as a call for assassination is primarily based on the slang meaning of "86," which can mean "to get rid of" something (source-4). However, this slang term has various interpretations and is not universally understood to imply violence. Comey himself has denied any intent to incite violence, emphasizing that he did not realize the connotation some might draw from the numbers (source-5).
The sources supporting the claim largely come from Trump's statements and those of his allies, which may carry a bias given their political context. Trump's characterization of Comey as a "dirty cop" and his insistence that Comey knew the implications of his post suggest a motive to frame Comey negatively (source-2). In contrast, Comey's defense and his subsequent apology indicate a lack of malicious intent, which is supported by his public statements (source-6).
The credibility of the sources varies, with mainstream news outlets like ABC News and Politico providing balanced reporting, while more partisan sources may amplify the narrative of a direct threat (source-1, source-4).
Conclusion
The claim that James Comey called for the assassination of President Trump is False. While the interpretation of his Instagram post as a threat has been circulated, Comey has explicitly denied any intent to incite violence. The ambiguity of the slang used and the lack of direct evidence supporting the claim further undermine its validity. The narrative appears to be more reflective of political tensions than of any genuine threat posed by Comey.
Sources
- Trump says Comey knew 'assassination' meaning behind deleted ... - Fox News
- Trump blasts former FBI Director James Comey ... - ABC News
- Was ex-FBI chief Comey's '86 47′ post calling for Trump ... - Al Jazeera
- Trump says James Comey’s ‘86 47’ post called for ‘assassination' - New York Post
- James Comey sparks Republican outrage with Trump ... - Politico
- James Comey reacts to accusation he called for Trump's ... - YouTube
- Did ex-FBI chief call for Trump's assassination with '8647' ... - France 24
- Secret Service Tailed Comey After Post On Trump: Report - Mediaite
