Minnesota State Fair removes ‘8647’ artwork protesting Trump after threats

A piece of art protesting President Donald Trump using the numbers “8647” was removed from the Minnesota State Fair after the artist allegedly received death threats.

A spokesperson for the fair said the artist asked to have the piece, made from dried beans, taken down, according to CBS News .

The crop art included the numbers "8647," which have been used to protest Trump . The number 86 is slang typically meaning "to throw out" or "remove," according to Merriam-Webster dictionary. Trump is the 47th president.

Trump's Department of Justice has stated that using the phrase "8647" constitutes a "serious expression of an intent to do harm to the President of the United States."

Fair-goer Tyler Breuch told the Minnesota Star Tribune that the supervisor who removed the art had told him the artist received death threats about piece, causing them to leave the state.

"Over this piece, which just seems ludicrous that someone who misunderstands slang is threatening to kill somebody over dried beans," Breuch told CBS News in a statement.

A conservative website, Alpha News, reportedly ran a story about the crop art Saturday, according to the Tribune .

The 8647 piece was placed in an exhibit with other political crop art. One piece read "AI is making me sad," while another proclaimed "Fairgoers say ICE OUT." A third read: "FAUCI LIED."

The slang "8647" may have been especially triggering for Trump supporters after an incident involving the former FBI Director James Comey. In May 2025, Comey posted a photo to Instagram that showed the numbers "8647" made out of seashells he found on a North Carolina beach.

In April, Trump’s Justice Department announced Comey was being indicted by a grand jury over the post.

"James Comey disgracefully encouraged a threat on President Trump’s life and posted it on Instagram for the world to see," FBI Director Kash Patel said at the time.

"As the former Director of the FBI, he knew full well the attention and consequences of making such a post. This FBI and our DOJ partners pursued a rigorous investigation that followed the facts - and now Mr. Comey will be held fully accountable for his actions."

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies