California Vice Mayor Faces Backlash for Controversial ’86 47′ Comment on State GOP Post

The California Republican Party chair and other conservative voices on social media are urging the resignation of Larry Lang, Vice Mayor of Los Altos, California, following his repeated use of the phrase “86 47” in social media posts. Lang’s controversial comments, which appeared in response to a Facebook post from the state Republican Party, have sparked significant backlash.

Lang’s posts, which have since been deleted, were captured in screenshots shared by the California Republican Party and reviewed by Fox News Digital. At some point this week, Lang updated his Facebook cover photo to feature the “86 47” phrase in a seashell formation. This image drew attention last month when former FBI Director James Comey faced federal indictment for making threats against the president.

Additionally, Lang commented “86 47” on a post from the California Republican Party. The post included a news segment featuring California GOP Chairperson Corrin Rankin discussing a recent debate among gubernatorial candidates. In the segment, Rankin criticized state Democrats, claiming they offered “no solutions” and suggesting Californians are eager for a change in leadership after 16 years under Democratic governance.

“This death threat directed at Donald Trump is unacceptable,” Rankin stated in a Friday post on X, calling for Lang’s resignation. “Either this elected ‘leader’ is completely unaware of recent events, or he is somehow fueling the violence that erodes our political system. Los Altos deserves leaders who unite the community and focus on solutions.”

The California Republican Party echoed Rankin’s sentiments, urging Democrats to “stop advocating for the death of Donald Trump and Republicans.”

Attempts to reach Lang for comment were met with an automatic email response indicating he was “traveling” until May 4. His Facebook cover photo was noted to have been changed on Friday.

Lang is the vice mayor of the Los Altos City Council and also sits on over half-a-dozen regional boards of directors. Fox News Digital also reached out to city council members in Los Altos for comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.

“He needs to resign as vice mayor!” conservative social media account Libs of TikTok said after uncovering the posts.
Nick Poche, spokesperson with the Republican National Committee, added that Democrats “must immediately dial back their unhinged rhetoric” or risk encouraging “deranged” supporters who might wish to kill the president, such as the suspect from the recent White House Correspondents Dinner shooting that was stymied by the Secret Service.  

“We suggest he resign to check into a mental hospital,” Poche said of Lang. 

Former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey was indicted for a second time by the Justice Department last month, which stemmed from a May 2025 Instagram photo of an “86 47” shell formation on a beach — the same shell formation that appeared in Lang’s Facebook “cover photo” until it was deleted.

In slang, often used in certain industries and in various cultures, “86” typically means to get rid of something. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is currently the 47th President of the United States.

Comey removed the post the same day it was uploaded, claiming he had misinterpreted the shells as a general political message.

The former FBI director is facing charges of making threats to harm the president and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, according to the Justice Department.

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