Trump Questions Whether James Comey’s Instagram Post Was a Life Threat

President Donald Trump’s legal efforts against perceived political rivals have faced growing scrutiny, with even the former president questioning their validity. On Wednesday, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins pressed Trump about the Department of Justice’s latest indictment targeting former FBI Director James Comey—a case Trump previously pursued without success in 2025.

The failed 2025 prosecution was dismissed after courts ruled Trump’s prosecutor had been illegally appointed. This time, the indictment hinges on a 2025 Instagram post by Comey, who arranged seashells on a beach to spell out “86 47.” The term “86” is commonly used in restaurants to remove or cancel a dish, but the DOJ argues it signifies a mob-style threat against Trump.

Collins asked Trump directly whether he believed Comey’s post was a genuine threat to his life.

“Well if anybody knows anything about crime, they know ‘86,’” Trump responded. “It’s a mob term for ‘kill ’em.’ You ever see the movies? … I think of it as a mob term. I don’t know.”

Trump then veered into a discussion about organized crime before Collins redirected him: “Do you really think your life was in danger?”

“Probably, I don’t know,” Trump replied. “People like Comey have created tremendous danger, I think, for politicians and others. You know, Comey is a dirty cop. He’s a very dirty cop. He cheated on the elections.”

Collins pressed further: “Do you really think that Comey was threatening your life with that post?” Trump reiterated his earlier point about the term’s alleged mob connotations, adding, “I don’t know.”

Legal experts note that Trump’s admission—“Probably, I don’t know”—lacks the evidentiary weight needed in court. Comey’s defense could easily argue that the seashell arrangement simply meant he wanted Trump removed from office.

Even some Republicans have distanced themselves from the indictment. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, expressed doubt about the case’s merits.

“I’ve used ‘86’ a lot of times,” Tillis told The Washington Post. “I’ve never said it with the intent of killing somebody.”

Representative Troy Nehls of Texas dismissed the prosecution as overly broad. “You can indict anybody for anything,” he remarked.