Former FBI director James Comey interviewed by Secret Service over ″86 47″ social media post

Former FBI director James Comey was interviewed by the Secret Service on Friday (May 16, 2025) about a social media post that Republicans insisted was a call for violence against U.S. President Donald Trump.

The interview was part of an ongoing Trump administration investigation and was expected to help authorities assess the purpose and intent of the post and whether Mr. Comey intended to communicate a threat to the President, which he has flatly denied. Any decision on whether charges should be filed would be up to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Mr. Trump said on Friday (May 16, 2025), though there's a high bar in proving that comments or posts amount to direct threats of violence.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed in a post on X that Mr. Comey had been interviewed and said she would “take all measures necessary to ensure the protection” of Mr. Trump. The Secret Service is part of the Department of Homeland Security. An interview is a standard part of an investigation into comments perceived as potentially threatening but does not suggest that charges are being considered.