The controversy centers on a May 2025 social media post where Comey shared a photo of seashells arranged to form the numbers "". As Donald Trump is the 47th president, the interpretation of "86" became the focal point of a national debate: The Political Controversy
: Comey has stated the post was a purely political message, using "86" in its common sense to "get rid of" or "discard" a political figure through the democratic process. Understanding the Term "86" Page 86
: Most commonly, "86" is used in restaurants and bars to indicate an item is out of stock (e.g., "86 the salmon") or that a customer should be refused service and ejected. The controversy centers on a May 2025 social
: It is frequently cited as rhyming slang for the word " nix ". : It is frequently cited as rhyming slang
: In the 1930s, soda fountain workers used numeric codes; "81" meant a glass of water, while "86" meant they were all out of an item.