New York [US], May 17: US President Donald Trump said he thought the photo posted on Instagram by former FBI Director James Comey of the number 8647 was a call for his assassination.
In an interview with Fox News on May 16, US President Trump said that former FBI Director James Comey called for his assassination and asked the Department of Justice to investigate the incident.
"He knows exactly what that number means. A child knows what that means. If you're the director of the FBI and you don't know what that means, that means assassination. And that speaks loud and clear," President Trump said, saying he would let Attorney General Pam Bondi and others "take further action on the matter."
"Our country has respect again and all these things. And he's calling for the assassination of the president," Trump added.
The US leader said he would not make a decision on what would happen to the former FBI director, saying that was up to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Previously, former FBI Director Comey's Instagram post showed the number 8647 made of seashells on the sand with the caption "beautiful seashell pattern on the beach I was walking on".
The photo quickly sparked controversy as many interpreted the numbers as a call for violence against the 47th president. Comey later took down the post and apologized in a new post. "I never thought about it. I oppose all forms of violence, so I took it down," he wrote.
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a post on X on May 15 that the US Secret Service is reviewing Mr. Comey's position.
Meanwhile, US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gubbard accused Mr Comey of targeting President Trump and said the former FBI director should "be put in jail".
The agency "vigorously investigates anything that could be considered a potential threat to those we protect," Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielm told The Hill .
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper