May 16, 2025 – Washington, D.C. — Former President Donald Trump has made a shocking allegation against former FBI Director James Comey, accusing him of suggesting Trump’s assassination through what he claims is a “coded message” shared in a recent social media post.
In a fiery statement posted to Truth Social on Thursday, Trump referenced an image posted by Comey earlier in the week — a seemingly innocuous photo of a tree with the caption “So it goes.” Trump and his allies allege the post is a veiled threat and part of what he described as “the deep state’s sick fantasies.”
“James Comey is sending coded messages again — this time calling for my death,” Trump wrote. “This kind of behavior is un-American, dangerous, and disgraceful from a former top law enforcement official. It must be investigated.”
Comey has not directly responded to the accusations, but sources close to the former FBI chief dismissed the claim as “baseless and absurd,” emphasizing that the post was a literary reference, not a threat. “So it goes” is a well-known phrase from Kurt Vonnegut’s novel Slaughterhouse-Five, often interpreted as a commentary on death and inevitability.
Critics of Trump have called the accusation a deliberate attempt to stir controversy and distract from ongoing legal challenges, including multiple criminal investigations and civil trials. However, supporters argue that Trump has a right to be concerned given the hostile rhetoric he claims to face.
Legal analysts say it is unlikely any formal investigation will be launched without credible evidence of intent or threat, noting that courts typically protect symbolic or artistic expression under the First Amendment.
This incident marks yet another dramatic chapter in the ongoing feud between Trump and Comey, who was fired by Trump in 2017 amid the Russia probe. The two have frequently exchanged barbs on social media and in public statements since then.
As political tensions escalate ahead of the 2024 election cycle, observers warn that such incendiary rhetoric could further inflame an already polarized political climate.