Coverage dated May 15, 2025

Ex-FBI Director James Comey under investigation for post seen as a potential threat to Trump's life

Headline from NBC New York

Several Trump allies accused Comey of calling for the president's assassination in a now-deleted Instagram post. He denied it was meant as a threat.

NBC New York's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

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48 articles, oldest first.

New York Post
Trump says this post by former FBI director Comey called for his ‘assassination' (opens New York Post)
Published May 15, 2025
New York Post's feed description
President Trump slammed his former FBI Director, James Comey, for posting a coded photo that he said called for his assassination.
Forbes
What Did James Comey Mean In '8647' Instagram Post? Views Differ Online (opens Forbes)
Published May 15, 2025
Forbes's feed description
Supporters of President Trump have argued that the post was a direct threat, while others have suggested it was just meant to "remove" Trump from office
NBC New York
Ex-FBI Director James Comey under investigation for post seen as a potential threat to Trump's life (opens NBC New York)
Published May 15, 2025
NBC New York's feed description
Several Trump allies accused Comey of calling for the president's assassination in a now-deleted Instagram post. He denied it was meant as a threat.
ABC 13 Houston
Trump blasts former FBI director James Comey over controversial Instagram post (opens ABC 13 Houston)
Published May 15, 2025
ABC 13 Houston's feed description
Federal law enforcement is investigating a social media post made by former FBI Director James Comey.
KHOU Houston
Trump administration officials say Secret Service is investigating Comey's '86 47' social media post (opens KHOU Houston)
Published May 15, 2025
KHOU Houston's feed description
In an Instagram post, Comey wrote “cool shell formation on my beach walk” under a picture of seashells that appeared to form the shapes for “86 47.”
RedState
Updated: FBI, Secret Service Get Involved; James Comey Tries to Explain Away His Post Threatening Trump (opens RedState)
Published May 15, 2025
Delaware Public Media
James Comey is under investigation for his '8647' Instagram post. What does it mean? (opens Delaware Public Media)
Published May 15, 2025
Delaware Public Media's feed description
The former FBI director posted — then deleted — a picture of seashells forming "8647." Trump and his allies view it as a call for his assassination, but Comey says he was unaware of that meaning.
Anchorage Daily News
Comey under investigation for ‘86 47’ social media post, Trump officials say (opens Anchorage Daily News)
Published May 15, 2025
Anchorage Daily News's feed description
The Trump administration accused the former FBI director of insinuating a call to violence in his Instagram post, which he denied.
Time
What to Know About James Comey’s Instagram ‘Threat’ Against Trump (opens Time)
Published May 15, 2025
Time's feed description
The Trump Administration is investigating the former FBI director for posting a photo of seashells that spelled “86 47.”
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Trump rejects ex-FBI director Comey’s explanation of ‘8647’ post | Honolulu Star-Advertiser (opens Honolulu Star-Advertiser)
Published May 15, 2025
Honolulu Star-Advertiser's feed description
WASHINGTON >> President Donald Trump accused James Comey today of calling for his assassination in a coded post on social media, rejecting the former FBI director’s explanation that he was not aware of any violent connotation.
Newsweek
Trump admin investigates James Comey over '8647' post (opens Newsweek)
Published May 15, 2025
Newsweek's feed description
Trump admin investigates James Comey over deleted "8647" Instagram post, which some allege is a coded threat to the president. This live blog is now closed.
Foxla
Ex-FBI Chief James Comey being investigated over Trump social media post (opens Foxla)
Published May 15, 2025
Foxla's feed description
The former FBI chief deleted the Instagram post explaining that there were no bad intentions.
The Guardian
James Comey investigated over seashell photo claimed to be ‘threat’ against Trump (opens The Guardian)
Published May 15, 2025
The Guardian's feed description
Ex-FBI director deletes Instagram post of shells in ‘8647’ formation that Republicans claim is code for assassination
Legitgov
Secret Service probing ex-FBI chief James Comey for allegedly threatening Trump in since-deleted ’86 47′ Instagram post (opens Legitgov)
Published May 15, 2025
The Boston Globe
Trump administration officials say Secret Service is investigating Comey’s ’86 47′ social media post (opens The Boston Globe)
Published May 15, 2025
The Boston Globe's feed description
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says federal law enforcement is investigating a social media post made by former FBI director James Comey that she and other Republicans claim is a call for violence against President Trump.
WISH-TV Indianapolis
Comey's '86 47' Instagram post sparks investigation, backlash (opens WISH-TV Indianapolis)
Published May 15, 2025
WISH-TV Indianapolis's feed description
Former FBI Director James Comey's post on social media, which some Republicans believe is a call for violence against President Donald Trump, has been investigated by federal law enforcement and the Secret Service.
WMUR
James Comey’s Instagram post sparks investigation (opens WMUR)
Published May 15, 2025
WMUR's feed description
Secretary Noem says federal law enforcement is investigating a social media post made by former FBI Director James Comey that she and other Republicans claim is a call for violence against President Trump.
Latin Times
Trump Claims Former FBI Director James Comey Called For His 'Assassination' On Instagram Post: 'A Dirty Cop' (opens Latin Times)
Published May 15, 2025
Latin Times's feed description
President Donald Trump accused former FBI Director James Comey of calling for his assassination on an Instagram post. Comey rejected the notion and took down the publication
Talking Points Memo
Trump Team Pretends To Be Horrified As Pretext To Target Comey (opens Talking Points Memo)
Published May 15, 2025
Talking Points Memo's feed description
The Trump administration quickly got in line Thursday to denounce, threaten, and investigate former FBI Director James Comey.
NBC News
Former FBI Director James Comey under investigation for post seen as a potential threat to Trump's life (opens NBC News)
Published May 15, 2025
NBC News's feed description
Several Trump allies accused the former FBI director of calling for the president's assassination in his '8647' post. Comey denied it was meant as a threat.
CBS News
James Comey under investigation for posting — and deleting — (opens CBS News)
Published May 15, 2025
CBS News's feed description
Trump administration officials claim former FBI chief James Comey called for violence against the president — which Comey has pushed back on.
The Guardian
Trump accuses former FBI director of calling for his killing through coded picture (opens The Guardian)
Published May 15, 2025
The Guardian's feed description
James Comey posted picture of shells arranged to say ‘8647’, using common slang for kicking a customer out of a bar
Washington Examiner
Trump fires off on Comey’s ‘8647’ message: ‘That meant assassination’ (opens Washington Examiner)
Published May 15, 2025
Washington Examiner's feed description
President Donald Trump denounced former FBI Director James Comey over a controversial social media post, arguing it called for his assassination.
Gizmodo
Trump Suggests Comey Should Be Prosecuted Over '86' Instagram Post (opens Gizmodo)
Published May 15, 2025
Gizmodo's feed description
Trump called former FBI Director James Comey a "dirty cop" and said he would leave it up to his underlings.
New York Post
Secret Service probing ex-FBI chief James Comey for allegedly threatening Trump in since-deleted ‘8647’ Instagram post (opens New York Post)
Published May 15, 2025
New York Post's feed description
Former FBI Director James Comey was accused Thursday of calling for violence against President Trump in a since-deleted Instagram post – which the Secret Service is now investigating.

Showing the first 25 of 27 headlines. ·

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.