The arrest of former FBI Director James Comey shows just how seriously social media can make an impact

Former FBI Director James Comey likely thought he was being “cute” with his social media post on Instagram in 2025 – but he probably doesn’t think it’s “cute” now, what with his recent indictment and arrest.

Comey was dismissed from duty way back in May 2017, with President Donald Trump believing that he mishandled the Hilary Clinton email investigation. And rightfully so, considering the weight of the situation.

That should’ve been the end of it, but then came an Instagram post in 2025, now deleted, with Comey making an all-too-clear suggestion that Trump needed to go away.

In the post, Comey took a picture of arranged seashells on a beach, noting it was a “cool shell formation.” But the arranged shells made out numbers – “8647.”

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what this means. The number “86” is slang for kill/remove, and it’s clear that 47 points to Donald Trump being the 47th President of the United States. So Comey, in a playful jab, suggested that his former boss needed to “go” – and not in a pleasant manner.

Administration officials quickly condemned the post, resulting in Comey removing it. He noted, “I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence,” and “I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”

This is merely an excuse. He knew exactly what he was posting and what he was suggesting.

Perhaps this was his playful way of taking a jab at Trump after a previous indictment was put in place, one suggesting he took part in false-statement and obstruction charges. (Ajudge threw out the indictment shortly thereafter.) But the thing is this – he failed to understand the power of social media.

See, social media has changed dramatically over the past few years. We’re seeing more radicals out there now, people that are spreading the wrong kind of messaging. Look at all the people who have been spreading hatred regarding ICE agents over the past couple of years, insisting they’re a threat when, in fact, they’re making amazing progress in arresting the worst of these illegal immigrant criminals. Not to mention the many people who try to portray police officers as villains, when they’re some of the most hard-working and dedicated folks you’ll ever meet.

There are so many people voicing disdain over Trump, and Comey’s ill-fated post feeds right into that. His “innocent” suggestion to do harm to the President can easily be taken the wrong way by the wrong person – such as, say, the lunatic who tried to barge their way into the White House Correspondent’s Dinner last week.

Comey has since turned himself in and been arrested, but the thing that bugs me here is that he isn’t accepting responsibility for the post he made. “I’m still innocent,” he noted in a posted video. “I’m still not afraid. And I still believe in the independent federal judiciary, so let’s go.”

Honestly, he should’ve just fessed up. He should’ve apologized for the post and indicated that it was nothing more than a social joke. But because he didn’t, the situation has escalated, and now he’s facing a new level of charges, probably more severe than the last ones that failed to stick.

But that’s the thing about social media. Someone could say something, but they very rarely find themselves in the situation where they have to back it up. Again, you see hatemongers going after ICE agents or police officers, but when confronted with the hard truth that they’re actually making a difference in this country, their argument changes. Either that or they simply block whoever’s providing logic and move on to the next talking head that will give them a listen.

I think the bottom line here is that you shouldn’t take social media for granted. It’s much more powerful than you might think, and the words that you say can absolutely resonate – and not just for the better. Comey should’ve known what he was getting himself into arranging those seashells, and instead of simply taking the blame, he believes he’ll get off with a slap on the wrists, just like last time.

But remember, folks, the Internet doesn’t forget.

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