Los Altos Vice Mayor Larry Lang is under pressure to resign after screenshots showed him posting "86 47" on Facebook and using a temporary cover photo that mirrored a seashell formation central to a recent indictment of former FBI Director James Comey. California GOP Chair Corrin Rankin and other conservative figures called the posts a death threat against President Trump and demanded Lang step down. Lang's email auto-reply said he was traveling until May 4 and the cover photo was later removed.
Los Altos Vice Mayor Faces Calls To Resign After Repeated '86 47' Social Media Posts
'Needs to resign': California vice mayor ripped after commenting '86 47' on state GOP's online post
The vice mayor of Los Altos, California, Larry Lang, is facing public calls to resign after screenshots showed he repeatedly posted the phrase "86 47" on Facebook and briefly used a cover photo displaying the same seashell formation tied to a recent high-profile indictment.
What Happened
Screenshots shared by the California Republican Party and reviewed by Fox News Digital show that Lang commented "86 47" on a California GOP Facebook post and temporarily set a matching image as his Facebook cover photo. The posts have since been deleted.
Why It Matters
The seashell formation reading "86 47" mirrors an image at the center of a Justice Department indictment against former FBI Director James Comey, who was charged last month in relation to an Instagram photo of the same formation. Critics say the phrase — given that "86" is slang for "get rid of" and Donald Trump is the 47th president — can be read as a threat against the president.
Responses And Reaction
California Republican Party Chair Corrin Rankin described the posts as an unacceptable death threat and urged Lang to resign, saying Los Altos needs leaders who unite the community and focus on solutions. The California GOP echoed those demands and urged Democrats broadly to curb inflammatory rhetoric.
"This death threat directed at Donald Trump is unacceptable," Rankin wrote on X, calling for Lang's resignation.
Conservative social accounts also amplified the screenshots. The account Libs of TikTok posted that "He needs to resign as vice mayor!" and Nick Poche, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee, said Democrats should dial back rhetoric that could inspire violent actors and suggested Lang "check into a mental hospital."
Lang's Position And Response
Lang serves as vice mayor on the Los Altos City Council and sits on several regional boards. Fox News Digital reached out to Lang and other city council members for comment. Lang's email auto-reply said he was "traveling" and would be unavailable until May 4; his Facebook cover photo was later changed.
Legal Context
The Comey case centers on a May 2025 Instagram photo of the same shell formation. Comey removed that post the same day and has said he misinterpreted the shells as a general political message. The Justice Department charged Comey with making threats to harm the president and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce; the charges carry a maximum sentence of up to 10 years if convictions occur.
What Comes Next
At the time of publication, Los Altos City Council members had not issued a formal response. The controversy raises local political pressure on a municipal official and echoes broader national concerns about online rhetoric, public safety and the legal boundaries of political speech.
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