After former FBI Director James Comey made a contentious social media post that was widely perceived as a covert threat against President Donald Trump, the U.S. Secret Service increased security.

After posting an Instagram photo of seashells stacked in the number “8647” on a beach with the remark, “cool shell formation on my beachwalk,” Comey came under heavy fire on Thursday.

Even though the message was eventually taken down, it immediately provoked criticism and was taken as a coded appeal for Trump’s killing by his fans.

Online interpretations include that “86” is a common slang term for removing someone, based on the measurements of a typical cemetery, which are eight feet long and six feet deep, while “47” refers to Trump as the 47th President of the United States.

“I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message,” Comey subsequently said in reaction to the public backlash.

“I had no idea that some people connected those figures to violence.” I never thought of it, but I removed the post because I’m against any forms of violence.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the issue is being taken seriously. Both the Secret Service and DHS are looking into the tweet, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said on X.

James Comey, the disgraced former director of the FBI, has called for the death of President Trump. “The Secret Service and DHS are looking into this threat and will react accordingly,” Noem tweeted.

There was additional input from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “We are aware of the recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey, directed at President Trump,” stated current FBI Director Kash Patel, confirming the agency is working with the appropriate authorities.

“We are in contact with Director Curran and the Secret Service,” Patel continued.

Comey was fired by then-President Trump in 2017, during his first term in office, after being named the FBI’s seventh director by President Barack Obama in 2013.