Donald Trump’s latest move is pathetic – but also terrifying

In 2025, former FBI director James Comey shared a photo of seashells in the shape of ‘86 47’ on his personal Instagram page.

It might seem benign, but Donald Trump’s government is trying to put him in prison for it. 

Because, in news that may have been missed amid the Royal Visit yesterday, a federal grand jury indicted James Comey for making a threat ‘to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon, the President of the United States’, and issued a warrant for his arrest.

As with most of Trump’s ego-driven actions, this is pathetic.

But this attack on free speech is also a chilling part of the authoritarian path he’s hacking through US democracy. 

While King Charles granted Donald Trump the honour of a royal visit yesterday, and referenced both countries’ shared history of the rule of law, Trump was actively weaponising the Department of Justice against his personal enemies.

It feels absurd. And it is. But it is equally scary. 

Because ‘86’ is common American restaurant slang that indicates either something is no longer available, or should be thrown out. 

Trump being the 47th US president, ‘86 47’ supposedly means he should be removed from office – an uncontroversial statement for most. 

Now apparently, we’re to believe that seashells in the shape of a number are a death threat.

Yet, Trump – a man with access to a nuclear arsenal – can post on social media ‘a whole civilisation will die tonight’, and that is not considered a threat of grave war crimes.

The President has always believed he has the right to use his lofty office  to attack his political opposition: he recently fired Attorney General Pam Bondi, who failed to secure charges against Comey multiple times. 

New Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche looks to be attempting to achieve some job security by pursuing Comey again. 

Blanche has also immediately closed the Epstein investigation and said no more files would be released. There were seashells to attend to, after all.

Comey has long been a target for Trump – he was Comey from his role as Director of the FBI in 2017 when he refused to drop the investigation into the ties between Russia and the then-Presiden’s 2016 campaign. 

Comey’s daughter, Maurene Comey, was an assistant U.S. attorney in New York, leading cases against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Trump fired her last year.  

One legal case might not seem that important when seen in the context of the countless acts of authoritarianism Trump is perpetrating across the globe, from ICE shootings and illegal deportations, to illegal wars, and pressuring red states to gerrymander their districts to ensure Republican wins in the November midterms. 

This case is blatantly farcical – and that’s precisely why it’s dangerous. 

Trump and his cronies aren’t trying to put together a legitimate case; they’re demonstrating that they don’t even need one to go after their enemies, and they’ve proven this now that a federal jury has confirmed the spurious charge.

Last September, Trump designated ‘Antifa’ as a domestic terrorist organisation, despite not being an organisation at all. ‘Antifa’ simply means ‘anti-fascist’, but this designation appears to aim to criminalise anyone acting to stop Trump’s regime.

A spectacular self-own, if Trump is in fact suggesting he is a fascist.  

This case moving forward is a signal that Trump is closer to being able to use the legal system against anyone he wants, whether there are legitimate charges or not. 

It’s unfortunately not a big stretch to imagine him bringing similarly phony charges against his opponents in Congress. 

If they can claim ‘86 47’ constitutes a death threat, I can only imagine what other uses of free speech he will arrest people over. 

Luckily, an unintended consequence of Trump’s placing unqualified orange-nosers in high-ranking positions is that they are bad at their jobs. 

While that’s not usually something I’m glad to say, in this case it works out well, because current FBI Director Kash Patel appears to have already jeopardised this case against Comey by disclosing evidence presented before the grand jury.  

The seashell post was a year ago, it’s strange they indicted him now. 

But it seems like it’s because Trump is desperate for a win. 

His war in Iran is out of his control and the public is turning on him. Inflation is soaring. Every day he manages to set records for his lowest approval rating. 

He hasn’t even received a pretend peace award this week.  

Despite King Charles’ attempt at diplomacy, Donald Trump has no interest in democracy, the rule of law, or international partnership.

He is obsessed only with ‘winning’ at all costs, even if it is obvious to everyone that the contest was rigged. 

While the King speaks about our countries’ shared history of democracy, the wannabe king acts as if he has the powers of an absolute monarchy. 

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk. 

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