DOJ Admits '86 47' Slogan Not a Serious Threat to Trump, Boosting Comey Case

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche acknowledged on Sunday, May 3, 2026, that the phrase “86 47” is not a serious threat to President Donald Trump. The admission followed a question from NBC’s Meet the Press host Kristen Welker about the proliferation of merchandise featuring the slogan on Amazon.

The slogan “86 47” was central to the second indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, who was charged with allegedly threatening the president.

Welker asked Blanche: “Should individuals selling or buying ‘86 47’ merchandise be concerned that they’re going to be prosecuted by the DOJ?”

“This isn’t about a single incident. That’s posted constantly, that phrase is used constantly, there are constantly men and women who choose to make threatening statements against President Trump. Every one of those statements do not result in indictments, of course.”

Welker pressed further: “Just to be very clear, you are suggesting the seashells themselves are not at the root of this indictment?”

“No, I am suggesting that every single case depends on the investigation that’s done. And of course, the seashells are part of that case, I mean, that’s what the public sees. But without a doubt—and it should be evident by the fact that it’s been 11 months since the posting and the indictment—there is an investigation that takes place. And the result of that investigation is the indictment that was returned last week.”

Blanche also clarified that individuals selling merchandise or posting messages similar to Comey’s seashell post will not face prosecution:

“Of course not. That’s posted constantly. That phrase is used constantly.”

NBC’s Acyn shared a clip of Blanche’s remarks on May 3, 2026:

AG Todd Blanche tells Kristen Welker that individuals selling 86 merchandise or posting messages similar to Comey’s seashell post will not be prosecuted: “Of course not. That’s posted constantly. That phrase is used constantly.”

An examination of the indictment reveals that it primarily focuses on the seashells as the alleged “serious expression of intent to do harm” against the president. The document does not cite additional materials as contributing to the legitimacy of the threat. Blanche’s admission that “86 47” is widely used by Trump’s critics—and not inherently threatening—raises questions about why this case proceeded while others did not.

Blanche did not explain the distinction, instead pointing to the 11-month investigation into a highly publicized Instagram post. The only apparent difference in this case appears to be the identity of the poster: someone Trump has publicly designated as an enemy.