Former FBI Director James Comey apparently posted a photo of shells on a beach that were aligned to read “8647” and has since sparked backlash online by those saying it is a “threat” aimed at President Donald Trump.

Newsweek reached out to Comey via his book website by email on Thursday.

Why It Matters

Comey was appointed by former President Barack Obama, and during Trump’s first term led the reopened investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton‘s use of her personal email.

Trump later fired Comey—a move that triggered pushback—for his handling of the investigation. Comey has since been a noted critic of Trump, especially during the president’s legal battles involving his handling of classified documents.

What To Know

In a since-deleted post on an Instagram account using Comey’s name, the former FBI director said, “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.” The account has over 130,000 followers.

The post sparked immediate criticism from conservatives. It is immediately unknown to Newsweek at the time of publication if Comey’s account was hacked or tampered with in any way.

Donald Trump Jr. reacted on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday: “Just James Comey causally [sic] calling for my dad to be murdered. This is who the Dem-Media worships. Demented!!!!”

Meghan McCain, daughter of late Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, posted on X, saying, “Don’t know how this can be interpreted as any other way but a threat against President Trump. James Comey should at the very least get a visit from the secret service. Also is everyone mentally ill?”

The phrase “8647” is perceived to be an anti-Trump message, with lawmakers like Republican Senator Mike Lee calling for Americans to condemn its use.

The association to Trump is that he is the 47th president of the United States, and the term “86” generally signifies to eliminate something (or someone). In the restaurant industry, it can also mean that a dish is no longer available, according to Chef’s Resource.

In a new post on Instagram, Comey said he saw the shells and “assumed” they were “a political message. I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence.”

Comey added that, “It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also reacted to the post on X, calling out Comey: “Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of @POTUS Trump. DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately.”

This is a developing story that will be updated with additional information.