Former FBI director James Comey says that he’s still a bit bewildered over how a seemingly innocent Instagram shot of shells arranged in the sand led to allegations from Donald Trump among others that he was calling for the president’s assassination and to an interview with the Secret Service.

Former FBI director James Comey says he's still a bit bewildered over how a seemingly innocent Instagram shot of shells arranged in the sand led to allegations by Donald Trump among others that he was calling for the president's assassination.

James Comey, the former FBI director fired by Donald Trump in 2017, sparked outrage on 15 May 2025 with an Instagram post of seashells arranged as '8647,' interpreted by Trump allies as a call to assassinate the 47th president. The post, swiftly deleted, prompted a Secret Service investigation and fierce debate over Comey's intent.