Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated on Thursday that federal law enforcement is examining a social media post by former FBI Director James Comey, which she and other Republicans have interpreted as an incitement to violence against President Donald Trump.

In an Instagram dispatch, Comey mused about a "cool shell formation" encountered during his beach walk, captioning a picture of seashells that seemingly coalesced into the numerals "86 47."

Several former Trump administration officials, Noem among them, alleged that Comey was effectively inciting the assassination of the 47th President. Noem stated, "The DHS and Secret Service are investigating this credible threat and will respond with the necessary measures."

According to Merriam-Webster, the standard dictionary for the Associated Press, the slang term "86" denotes discarding, eliminating, or refusing service; furthermore, the dictionary acknowledges a more recent, logical extension of these meanings to encompass "kill," though this definition is omitted due to its novelty and infrequent usage.

The post has since been removed. Comey later acknowledged, "Earlier, I uploaded an image of seashells encountered during a beach stroll, mistakenly interpreting them as a veiled political statement. I was unaware that certain individuals connect those numerical configurations with violent acts."

Comey's initial social media post ignited a firestorm of outrage amongst conservatives, culminating in Donald Trump Jr.'s incendiary accusation that Comey was tacitly advocating for the assassination of his father.

Kash Patel, the current FBI Director, acknowledged his awareness of the post and stated he was consulting with the Secret Service and its director.

James Blair, White House deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs, observed that the appointment coincided with a particularly sensitive juncture, given President Trump's ongoing tour of the Middle East.

On X, Blair characterized Jim Comey's statement as a thinly veiled incitement to violence, directed towards terrorist groups and hostile governments, urging the assassination of the U.S. President during his Middle East tour.

Ousted by Trump during his first term as president, former FBI Director James Comey, who served from 2013 to 2017, had been overseeing the bureau's investigation into alleged links between Russian officials and Trump's 2016 campaign; his tenure and subsequent dismissal are chronicled in his best-selling memoir, “A Higher Loyalty.”

Now a crime fiction author, he is currently promoting his latest novel, "FDR Drive," scheduled for release on Tuesday.