A golden moon and a model of the Space Reactor-1 Freedom sit on the desk while U.S. President Donald Trump takes questions from the media during an event with Artemis II astronauts in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 29, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
President Donald Trump stunned political analysts and observers during a press gaggle in the Oval Office on Wednesday after he was asked about a recent indictment secured by his Department of Justice.
On Tuesday, the DOJ indicted former FBI Director James Comey on two felony counts of threatening Trump's life and interstate communication violations. The charges stem from a picture Comey posted on his Instagram account of seashells arranged to read "86 47," a term that some conservatives have construed to mean that Comey was advocating for Trump's death.
CNN's Kaitlan Collins asked Trump during a press gaggle whether he believed Comey was really trying to threaten him with the post, which is an element that Trump's lawyers will have to prove in court.
"Well, if anybody knows anything about crime, they know '86' is a mob term for 'kill 'em," Trump said. "You ever see the movies?"
Political analysts and observers reacted to the exchange on social media.
"This, of course, is patently false," Jon Ralston, CEO of The Nevada Independent, posted on X. "By the way, '86'ed' is a very common term in Vegas. It means to be kicked out, possibly banned. Unless all these years, all of these people (hundreds, maybe thousands) casinos have 86'ed, actually were killed?"
"I'm sorry, but that's completely stupid," journalist Robby Soave posted on X.
"Hmm. So then we should go after Matt Gaetz and many more on the right for the same thing, right? 86 46?" Martina Navratilova, a former professional tennis player, posted on X.