Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated on Thursday that federal law enforcement agencies are 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 captioned a photograph of seashells arranged in what appeared to be the numerals "86 47" with the observation, "intriguing shell configuration encountered during my coastal ramble."

Several figures within the Trump administration, Noem among them, alleged that Comey was effectively inciting the assassination of the former president. Noem stated that the Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service were investigating the perceived threat and would respond accordingly.

Merriam-Webster, the standard dictionary for the Associated Press, defines the slang term "86" as signifying the act of discarding, eliminating, or denying service. The dictionary further acknowledges a more recent, logical extension of these meanings: "to kill," but refrains from formally including this definition due to its novelty and infrequent usage.

The aforementioned post has since been removed. Subsequently, Comey issued a statement: "Earlier today, I uploaded an image of seashells encountered during a beach stroll, mistakenly inferring a political subtext. I was unaware of the association of these numerical arrangements with acts of violence."

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

Kash Patel, the current FBI Director, acknowledged his awareness of the communication and stated he was in consultation with the Secret Service and its director regarding the matter.

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

On X, Blair characterized Jim Comey's statement as a blatant incitement to violence, directed at terrorists and adversarial governments, urging the assassination of the U.S. President during his Middle East tour.

James Comey, who helmed the FBI from 2013 to 2017, faced dismissal by Trump during the latter's initial presidential term, precipitated by the bureau's investigation into alleged connections between Russian operatives and Trump's 2016 campaign; subsequently, Comey chronicled his professional trajectory in the acclaimed memoir, "A Higher Loyalty."

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