8647 Controversy: Why Donald Trump and MAGA hate former FBI director James Comey

Few figures have drawn as much ire from Donald Trump and his MAGA base as former FBI Director James Comey. Once a Republican-leaning lawman with an upright image, Comey has since become a symbol of what Trump supporters see as the "deep state" — an entrenched bureaucracy working against the former President.That hatred, long simmering, has boiled over again after Comey posted a cryptic message online referencing the number “8647” — a combination some interpreted as a veiled threat against President Trump. According to online speculation, “86” is American slang for “kill”, while “47” refers to Trump’s current status as the 47th President of the United States. The post has sparked an investigation by the Secret Service and the FBI, and drew a furious response from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who accused Comey of “issuing a call to action to murder the President”.But to understand the latest backlash, one must go back to the roots of the Trump-Comey feud.The Firing Heard Around the WorldIn May 2017, Trump abruptly fired Comey, then serving as FBI Director, claiming he had mishandled the Clinton email probe. But the decision came just days after Comey confirmed that the FBI was investigating possible links between the Trump campaign and Russian interference in the 2016 election — a revelation that fuelled suspicions Trump was trying to obstruct justice.

Comey responded by leaking memos documenting his conversations with Trump, triggering the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. That investigation dominated Trump’s presidency and helped cement Comey’s position as public enemy number one in MAGA circles.

Deep State Allegations and “Witch Hunt” Claims

To Trump’s supporters, Comey became a lightning rod for everything they believed was wrong with federal institutions: politicised investigations, selective leaks, and what they saw as a bias against outsiders like Trump.

Trump repeatedly attacked Comey as a “dirty cop”, a “liar”, and part of a “witch hunt”.Even after leaving public service, Comey remained a vocal Trump critic, writing books and appearing on talk shows to warn against what he described as Trump’s authoritarian tendencies. To MAGA loyalists, these appearances weren’t acts of conscience — they were self-serving attempts to stay relevant and cash in.

Comey, Gabbard and the “8647” Firestorm

The latest controversy has only added fuel to the fire.

Tulsi Gabbard’s dramatic accusation — that Comey effectively called for Trump’s assassination — has reignited long-standing grievances. The FBI and Secret Service are now investigating the post, which Comey has yet to clarify publicly. While critics argue the interpretation is far-fetched, the symbolism of “8647” has gained traction in online right-wing spaces.Comey’s defenders say the outrage is manufactured — another attempt by Trumpworld to silence dissent. But in a post-Jan 6 landscape, where fears of political violence run high, even vague insinuations are taken seriously.

A Symbol of Resistance — or Betrayal

To Trump and MAGA supporters, James Comey is not just a bureaucrat who fell out of favour. He is the man who, in their view, sabotaged a presidency from within. They see him as emblematic of a two-tiered justice system — one that protects political elites while targeting populists.For others, he remains a complex figure: a rule-of-law conservative who found himself at the heart of an unprecedented political storm. Either way, the Trump-Comey saga remains one of the most defining — and combustible — feuds in modern American politics. And with Trump back in the White House, that feud is far from over.