President Donald Trump has responded to a social media post made by former FBI Director James Comey that appeared to be hinting the president should have a “hit” put on him.
During an interview with Fox News host Bret Baier, Trump said Comey “knew exactly” what he was doing when he made the controversial post.
“He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant. If you’re the FBI director and you don’t know what that meant… That meant assassination,” Trump said.
In his post, Comey posted seashells in a “86 47” with the caption “Cool shell formation on my beach walk….” However, the number “86” is often used as a sign a person should be murdered.
Trump called Comey incompetent, but competent enough to know what it meant. The post also got the attention of Secret Service and current FBI Director Kash Patel.
“It says it loud and clear,” Trump said. “Now, he wasn’t very competent, but he was competent enough to know what that meant, and he did it for a reason and he was hit so hard, because people like me. They like what’s happening with our country. Our country’s become respected again and all this and he’s calling for the assassination of the president.”
Baier then said Comey had apologized and deleted the post. In response, Trump said he only apologized because of the backlash Comey received and added that he didn’t want to take a position on it, because it will be up to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to take any further steps.
“I don’t want to take a position on it because that’s going to be up to Pam, and all of the great people, but I will say this, I think it’s a terrible thing,” Trump said. “And when you added history to that, if he had a clean history, he doesn’t, he’s a dirty cop, he’s a dirty cop, and if he had a clean history I could understand if there was a leniency, but I’m going to let them make that decision.”