In a move that has sparked widespread concern, Secret Service agents questioned former FBI Director James Comey at a Washington field office on Friday about a social media post he made that some interpreted as a call for violence against President Donald Trump. The incident has raised questions about the potential implications of such language and whether it constitutes incitement to violence.
The Controversial Post
According to reports, Comey posted a picture on Instagram of the numbers "8647" spelled out in the sand with seashells. At first glance, the image may seem innocuous, but upon closer inspection, it reveals a more sinister message:
- "86": Defined as "get rid of" or "throw out."
- "47": Refers to Trump being the 47th president of the United States.
Comey later deleted the picture after realizing its potential impact. In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, he explained that he didn’t intend for his post to be interpreted as a call for violence against Trump or anyone else, claiming it was simply a political message.
Trump’s Response
President Trump took issue with Comey’s explanation during an appearance on Fox News. He claimed that only those unfamiliar with these terms would not understand their meaning and accused Comey of being clueless about how people perceive him. Trump stated:
"This guy [Comey] had no idea what this means? It’s obvious… This guy doesn’t know how stupid people think they are."
Trump further emphasized that if someone were sitting next to him and saw "86/47" written in the sand, everyone would know what it means—except Comey. He expressed disbelief that Comey had never been informed of this interpretation.
Legal Implications
The incident has sparked concerns about whether such language can be considered incitement to violence under federal law. While there is no evidence to suggest that Comey intended for his post to be taken literally or called for actual harm towards anyone, including President Trump, some have raised questions about whether words can have consequences.
The Secret Service confirmed that they had spoken with Comey regarding the social media posts from last weekend, which included images containing numbers associated with "get rid" (86) and "the 47th president."
I’m Mark W. Lamplugh Jr., a visionary Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, and best-selling Author with over 25 years of experience driving significant revenue growth and optimizing ROI across the healthcare, wellness, and media industries. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently transformed underperforming operations into thriving ventures by building top-tier marketing organizations, implementing data-driven strategies, and leading transformational change. My empathetic, collaborative, and adaptable leadership style has allowed me to cultivate inclusive cultures of innovation, develop and retain top talent, and forge strong partnerships that fuel organizational success.
Adept in executive leadership, strategic business planning, and brand and marketing strategy, I have a proven track record of boosting annual revenues—achieving up to $1.3B in oncology over three years and generating $360M in mental health initiatives. My approach combines strategic vision with hands-on execution, as evidenced by my success in launching innovative facilities, expanding services for addiction and mental health care, and enhancing organizational brand visibility. As author of “The AI Marketing Playbook,” I contribute thought leadership on the integration of artificial intelligence in marketing, a role that showcases my commitment to staying at the forefront of industry innovation.
I also bring my insights and expertise to a broad audience as the host of cable tv & global streaming of “Street Level Marketing Show,” while my writing has been featured in major publications such as Entrepreneur, Business.com, The Startup, and Kivo Daily. Whether I’m implementing targeted digital marketing campaigns that engage over a million individuals monthly or overseeing multi-million dollar budgets to maximize return on investment, I approach every challenge with a combination of strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and unwavering dedication. Above all, I am passionate about expanding access to high-quality addiction and mental health care through innovative solutions that drive both patient outcomes and organizational growth.
Mark serves on the board of One World for Life, National Fire Heritage Center, and the Institute for Responder Wellness.
Mark (https://marklamplugh.com) is one of the top marketing executives in the United States and has revolutionized how companies reach potential clients thru influence, SEO, social, PR, and traditional marketing. His expertise in Marketing, Social Media, Digital Marketing, and Public Relations has generated millions of dollars in revenue for several national companies. Mark documents many of his techniques in his book “Beginners Guide to Social & Digital Media.” and “Marketing Playbook for Social Media,” which was named the top 100 social media marketing books of all time by Book Authority. He’s also a professional advocate for the behavioral and mental health of firefighters and other first responders. Marks articles have been published in Better Marketing, Startup Magazine, Social Media Today, Kivo Daily, Biz Catalyst 360, Fire Engineering, Firehouse Magazine, and several others.
One of his companies, niches, are marketing products and services to the public safety industry and their employees, specifically mental & behavioral health services. He can be reached for comment at ceo@influencemediasolutions.com
23,000 #1 Connections, 40,000,000 US B2B Contacts and 300,000,000 B2b/B2C email contacts as well as 1,000,000+ monthly social media reach. https://marklamplugh.com
