Trump Says Comey’s ’86’ Message Meant ‘Kill Them’ — Revives Years-Old Conspiracy Theory
Reflecto News | Politics & Investigations | U.S. News
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump revived a long‑running conspiracy theory on Wednesday, claiming that former FBI Director James Comey had used the number “86” — a term the President asserted is a mob expression for “kill them” — as a veiled threat against his life.
Trump made the remark during an impromptu exchange with reporters at the White House, when asked whether he genuinely believed that Comey had threatened him.
“’86’ is a mob term that means ‘kill them.'”
— President Donald J. Trump
🔍 The Context: Comey’s ’86’ Text
The controversy dates back to 2017, when Comey was serving as FBI Director. At that time, Comey had drafted a memo for his deputy, Andrew McCabe, regarding the status of the investigation into Michael Flynn (Trump’s first National Security Advisor). In the memo, Comey wrote: “I spoke to McCabe about the possibility of relieving McCabe, and we agreed that if we are going to do it, we need to coordinate with McCabe and maybe even schedule a time to ’86’ him.”
Comey has since explained that the term “86” — which in restaurant industry slang means to “remove” or “reject” — was used in the context of McCabe’s employment, not physical harm. The FBI has supported this interpretation. Trump’s interpretation, that it was a mob death threat, has been widely debunked, but the President has continued to repeat the claim.
The “86” code has been part of Trump’s political lore since at least 2018, much like his repeated claims that the FBI was planning an “attempted coup” or that the Mueller investigation was a “witch hunt.” By resurrecting the “86” issue, Trump is signaling to his base that the “deep state” — personified by Comey — is still his enemy and that his persecution narrative remains alive and well.
Trump’s language is deliberately chosen to inflame: “mob term” implies organized crime, and “kill them” is unambiguous. Never mind that Comey has provided a benign explanation; Trump has elevated the claim to presidential statements from the White lawn multiple times, and his supporters believe him. The falsehood has become a fixture of his grievance repertoire.
⚖️ The Legal Reality: No Charges, No Threats
James Comey has never been charged with threatening a president, and no federal investigation has ever been opened into the “86” comment as a death threat. Trump’s repeated claims remain unsubstantiated.
The number “86” is commonly used in many industries. In restaurants and bars, it is used to indicate that an item is out of stock. In the context of employment termination, it can simply mean to “fire” someone — the interpretation Comey has asserted. While Comey’s critics argue that the term is sometimes used in criminal contexts, there is no evidence that Comey intended it as a threat.
Trump has a long history of using aggressive, hyperbolic language to describe his enemies. By resurrecting the “86” conspiracy, the President ensures that his political base remains focused on the “deep state” rather than the issues currently facing his administration — including the ongoing Iran war, rising gas prices, and the approaching midterm elections.
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