America is investigating the "threat" to assassinate former FBI director Trump.

US Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen announced that law enforcement agencies, including the Secret Service, are investigating a post made by James Comey, the former director of the FBI, after he was accused of hinting at the assassination of President Donald Trump.

Nielsen stated in a tweet on "X" platform: "Former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of American President Trump."

She added that "the Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service are investigating this threat and will handle it appropriately."

Comey had posted a picture on Instagram (later deleted) showing the numbers "47 86" made of seashells, where the term "86" in American slang refers to getting rid of something, while the number 47 represents Trump's position as the forty-seventh president of the United States.

Comey responded: "I did not intend violence," stating in a later statement on Instagram that there was no malicious intent, saying: "I posted a picture of some seashells I saw today while walking on the beach, which I assumed was a political message."

He added: "I did not realize that some people associate these numbers with violence. It never crossed my mind, but I am against violence in all its forms, so I deleted the post."