The Outrage Tug-of-War: Decoding the "8647" Controversy and Trump’s Hog-Tied Biden Post

Category: Deep Dives
Sub-Category: Behind the Headlines
Published: May 17, 2025
Website: InsightOutVision.com

A Social Media Storm Ignites

On May 16, 2025, X user@RetroAgent12

lit up the platform with a biting critique that cut straight to the heart of a brewing political controversy. The post called out what they saw as blatant hypocrisy: Trump supporters were up in arms over former FBI Director James Comey’s Instagram photo of a shell formation spelling "8647"—interpreted by some as a coded threat against Donald Trump—yet they cheered when Trump shared an image of Joe Biden hog-tied in the back of a truck on March 28, 2024. The post racked up 3.9K retweets, 15.7K likes, and 1K replies, signaling a firestorm of polarized reactions. So, what’s really going on here? Let’s unpack the symbols, the slang, and the selective outrage driving this narrative.

The "8647" Controversy: A Coded Threat?

James Comey’s Instagram post, shared earlier this week, showed a beach scene with shells arranged to form "8647." It didn’t take long for Trump supporters to decode it—or at least, think they did. According to a Hindustan Times report from May 16, 2025, the number "86" is American slang for "get rid of" or "remove," a term rooted in 1930s soda-jerk lingo and later popularized in hospitality to mean ejecting a customer (Wikipedia, 2025). The "47" likely refers to Trump as the 47th U.S. President. Put them together, and some saw a veiled threat: "eliminate Trump."

Comey quickly deleted the post and issued a statement saying, "I oppose violence," but the damage was done. Trump himself amplified the outrage on Fox News, calling it "a disgusting act by a disgraced FBI director." X users like@Lainie19148 pushed back, arguing there’s "no comparison" between Comey’s post and Trump’s, while others, like@filicana, noted that "86" has been common slang for decades—used in schools and restaurants to mean removal, not violence.

Trump’s Hog-Tied Biden Image: A Double Standard?

Now, let’s rewind to March 28, 2024. Donald Trump posted an image on Truth Social showing a pickup truck in Long Island, New York, decked out with pro-Trump symbols: a "Thin Blue Line" flag, a "Trump 2024" sticker, and, most controversially, a depiction of Joe Biden hog-tied in the truck bed. The Biden campaign swiftly condemned it, with spokesman Michael Tyler telling the BBC, "Trump is regularly inciting political violence, and it’s time people take him seriously—just ask the Capitol police officers attacked on January 6." Trump’s team, however, dismissed the criticism, with spokesman Steven Cheung claiming it was just a picture on a truck driving down a highway.

The "Thin Blue Line" flag in the image adds another layer. Originally a symbol of support for law enforcement, it’s been co-opted by movements like Blue Lives Matter and even white nationalists, as noted in a Wikipedia entry updated April 29, 2025. Its presence on the truck alongside Biden’s bound image sent a charged message—one that many Trump supporters celebrated as patriotic defiance but others saw as a dangerous escalation.

The Hypocrisy Debate: Selective Outrage in Action@RetroAgent12’s post cuts through the noise: if Trump supporters are outraged by "8647," why were they silent—or even celebratory—when Trump shared the hog-tied Biden image? Replies to the post reveal the divide.@DavidLewis3518argued the Biden image isn’t a "potential death threat" like "8647," while@smalltwngirl918 laughed off the controversy, pointing out they’d used "8647" in their profile for weeks without issue. Meanwhile,@JustTheFacts_68 and @KpictiahNL called out the double standard, with the latter writing, "You don’t get to pick and choose your outrage—either hateful symbolism is unacceptable, or it isn’t."

The X thread also highlights a cottage industry around the "86" slang. Screenshots shared by users show T-shirts for sale with slogans like "86 46 Impeach Biden 46" for $14.99, blending political messaging with commercial opportunism. It’s a stark reminder of how quickly symbols and slang can be weaponized in today’s polarized climate.

Symbols and Slang: A Deeper Look

Let’s break down the symbols at play. The "Thin Blue Line" flag has a complex history. It emerged as a pro-police symbol but became divisive after being linked to Blue Lives Matter—a rebuttal to Black Lives Matter—and later white nationalist groups post-2017’s Unite the Right rally (Wikipedia, 2025). Its appearance on the truck alongside Biden’s image isn’t neutral; it’s a dog whistle to a specific audience.

Then there’s "86." Its origins are murky—possibly from 1930s soda-jerk jargon or Prohibition-era bar raids—but its modern usage spans industries. As @filicana

noted, it’s often just a logistical term, not a call to violence. Yet, in the context of "8647," the interpretation shifts. Cassell’s Dictionary of Slang even lists "86" as meaning "to kill" in some contexts, tying it to the dimensions of a standard grave (2.5’ x 8’ x 6’). This darker connotation fueled the outrage, but is it a fair reading of Comey’s intent?

Why This Matters: The Bigger Picture

This isn’t just about a shell formation or a truck graphic—it’s about how we interpret symbols in a hyper-partisan era. Both sides accuse the other of inciting violence while defending their own provocative imagery. The Biden image and "8647" controversy reveal a deeper issue: selective outrage. When does a symbol cross the line from expression to threat? And why are we so quick to condemn one side while giving the other a pass?

The X thread also reflects a broader trend: the weaponization of language and imagery for political gain. From "86 46" T-shirts to Thin Blue Line flags, these symbols aren’t just statements—they’re rallying cries. They deepen divisions, turning discourse into a tug-of-war where nuance gets lost.

What’s Next?

As of May 17, 2025, the "8647" controversy shows no signs of dying down. Comey’s statement hasn’t quelled the outrage, and Trump’s team continues to leverage it for political points. Meanwhile, the hog-tied Biden image remains a rallying point for Trump supporters, with similar imagery still circulating online. The question is: where do we draw the line? If both sides keep escalating, what’s the endgame?

Thought Questions for Readers

1. Do you think "8647" was a genuine threat, or is the outrage overblown? Why?

2. How should political figures like Trump and Comey be held accountable for the imagery they share?

3. What role do symbols like the "Thin Blue Line" flag play in shaping political discourse today?