FBI Director Kash Patel has confirmed that the agency has been forced to pull agents off critical investigations after a wave of threats against President Trump flooded the bureau—an issue traced back to a cryptic “86 47” social media post by former FBI Director James Comey.
The post, featuring seashells arranged to spell out the number “86 47,” has been interpreted by many as a coded call for violence against the 47th president. Since its publication, the FBI has faced an influx of copycat threats serious enough to require the reassignment of personnel from key units focused on child predators, drug trafficking, and terrorism.
Patel expressed concern over the operational disruption, stating that the agency is now stretched thin as agents are redirected to assess and neutralize a growing list of threats.
Though Comey has claimed the post was harmless and without any intended message, the fallout has been significant. The incident has ignited a nationwide debate over the responsibility of public figures on social media and the real-world impact of suggestive or ambiguous messaging.
The FBI remains on high alert, with its leadership reaffirming their focus on protecting public safety while also calling for restraint and accountability in political discourse.