Minnesota State Fair Removes Trump-Protest Crop Art After Artist Receives Death Threats
Quick Look
- A piece of crop art at the Minnesota State Fair featuring the numbers '8647' as a protest against President Donald Trump was removed after the artist reportedly received death threats.
- The number '8647' combines slang for 'remove' with Trump's presidency number.
- Fair officials confirmed the artist requested removal due to threats.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The numbers '8647' combine the slang term '86' (meaning to remove or throw out) with '47', referencing Donald Trump as the 47th U.S. president. The phrase has been used in political protests against Trump. A similar incident occurred in May 2025 when former FBI Director James Comey posted a photo of '8647' made from seashells on Instagram, which led to a grand jury indictment announced in April 2025 over allegations of threatening the president. Comey's trial is scheduled for fall 2025.
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.
The Independent has requested comment from the Minnesota State Fair.
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."
Comey's case will go to trial this fall.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
James Comey's trial related to the '8647' seashell post will proceed this fall as scheduled.
Very likely · Within months
The artist who created the Minnesota State Fair crop art will not face legal charges for the artwork.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Who made the death threats against the artist?
- Will any charges be filed in connection with the threats?
- Did the Minnesota State Fair face pressure from specific groups to remove the art?
- What is the current status of the artist?
