LIVINGSTON COUNTY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – In a political climate that’s already running hot, the Livingston County Democratic Party managed to pour a little more gasoline on the fire.
The Livingston County Republican Party issued a sharply worded statement Thursday condemning a now-deleted AI-generated Facebook post by the Livingston County Democrats that showed four former U.S. presidents wearing shirts that spell out the number “8647″ – a phrase critics have interpreted as a reference suggesting violence or eliminating President Donald Trump.
The Meaning Behind “8647.”
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“86” is a slang term commonly used to mean get rid of, throw out, cancel, or refuse service. “47” refers to President Trump as the nation’s 47th president. The phrase “8647” drew national attention in 2025 after former FBI Director James Comey posted a photo on social media of seashells arranged on a beach to form the numbers “8647,” captioning it, “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.” Critics argued the post could be interpreted as a threat against President Trump, while Comey said he intended it only as a political message calling for Trump’s removal from office and denied advocating violence.
Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer also found herself at the center of a similar controversy during the 2020 presidential campaign when viewers noticed an “8645” display in the background of a televised interview from her home. Oddly enough, it was under a license plate that read “respect.” Because Donald Trump was the 45th president at the time, the display drew widespread criticism from Republicans.
Now, with a similar controversy reaching Livingston County, Republican Chair Deborah Drick said the Livingston County post demonstrated “how low the Livingston Democrat leadership has sunk” and stressed that Republicans “absolutely and unequivocally” reject any suggestion of violence against elected officials, regardless of political differences.
Democrats call backlash a “distraction.”
The Livingston County Democratic Party deleted the post after causing the stir, telling WHMI-FM 93-5 that the image was being mischaracterized and that it was just intended to refer to Trump’s impeachment, pointing out that the president is in an orange jumpsuit in the background of the photo. When asked why the post was deleted, Livingston County Democratic Party Chair Judy Daubenmier said it was a “distraction.”
The GOP statement argues that the Democrat responsible for the post should be removed from the party, along with any leaders who approved it or refuse to publicly condemn it. Drick also urged voters to research candidates connected to the organization before casting their ballots.
The dispute highlights how the phrase “8647” continues to generate controversy, with critics viewing it as a reference to removing or harming President Trump but others arguing it is simply political speech calling for his removal from office.
