Of all the phrases that could dominate political discourse in 2025, few are as punchy or as pointed as FAFO. This internet-born acronym, standing for “F**k Around and Find Out,” has exploded from online slang into a full-blown political weapon, and its latest deployment came from none other than Elon Musk. In a move that signals a major shift in his political alliances, Musk used the phrase to wade into one of the most contentious battles of the moment, creating a perfect storm of social media drama and real-world consequences that has everyone talking.
The story kicks into high gear with a specific, cryptic social media post. On September 26, 2025, Musk took to X, the platform he owns, and shared an AI-generated image that was impossible to ignore. The picture showed President Donald Trump on a beach, casually arranging pebbles in the sand to spell out “FAFO.” Musk’s caption, “Cool shell formation found on beach walk,” was far from an innocent description; it was a direct and deliberate callback to a previous post by former FBI Director James Comey, creating a layered public statement that was instantly decoded by the online world.
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The FAFO vs. 8647 Beach Walk Drama
To understand why Musk’s post was such a powerful statement, you have to rewind a few months. Back in May, James Comey had posted his own beach photo, featuring shells arranged to spell “8647.” At first glance, it might have seemed like a harmless, quirky share. However, in the hyper-vigilant world of politics, every detail is scrutinized.
The number “47” was widely interpreted as a reference to Trump, the 47th U.S. president, while “86” is old American slang meaning to get rid of or eliminate something. To many Trump allies, this wasn’t a casual post; it was perceived as a veiled threat, sparking outrage and even a reported Secret Service investigation. Comey later deleted the post and denied any violent intent, but the damage was done.
WOW!
Former FBI Director James Comey @Comey just posted this on his Instagram 2 hours ago, with the caption “cool shell formation on my beach walk”. It’s a pic of shells in the form of “86 47”.
This is a call for the assassination of President Trump by the former FBI Director! pic.twitter.com/Q4qIBbvvmt
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) May 15, 2025
Musk’s “FAFO” post was the ultimate clapback on Comey’s behalf. By mirroring the exact format and caption of Comey’s post, Musk was sending an unmistakable message: the “finding out” phase was now in session. This wasn’t just an online spat; it was a public endorsement of a major real-world event. Just a day before Musk’s tweet, on September 25, James Comey was indicted by the Trump administration on charges of making false statements to Congress and obstruction of a congressional proceeding.
The indictment stems from his 2020 testimony about the FBI’s handling of investigations during the 2016 election. Musk didn’t stop at the meme; he also reposted a message from Attorney General Pam Bondi about the indictment, solidifying his support for the legal action. His “FAFO” post became a viral way of saying that Comey’s actions had finally caught up with him.
A Bromance Rekindled on the Political Battlefield
Cool shell formation found on beach walk pic.twitter.com/VuouLGFG0m
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 26, 2025
The timing of Musk’s post reveals just as much as its content. This very public show of support for Trump came just days after the two men were seen together at the memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk on September 21. It was their first public appearance together after a reported and very vocal falling out back in June, making the handshake and conversation a significant moment of reconciliation. The “FAFO” post, therefore, was more than a comment on Comey; it was a signal that the bromance was back on, a declaration of realigned political loyalties for all the world to see.
This support extended beyond the Comey incident. On the same day, Musk also backed the Trump administration’s stance on a looming government shutdown. He replied with a simple “Yup” to a post from Vice President JD Vance that blamed Democrats for the impasse, accusing them of demanding “healthcare for illegal aliens.” This quick interaction shows Musk’s re-engagement with Trump’s core political battles.
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“My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump, but we couldn’t imagine ourselves living any other way.
We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn’t either.… pic.twitter.com/7oisRjWAfK
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) September 26, 2025
While Musk had previously floated the idea of his own “America Party” after a feud with Trump, his recent actions suggest that, for now, he is firmly back in the former president’s camp. The phrase FAFO itself has a history with Trump, who used it in a meme about a foreign policy standoff with Colombia earlier in the year, a post Musk at the time called “awesome.” Its resurgence now ties the current political turmoil to a broader pattern of confrontational rhetoric.
Ultimately, the story of “FAFO Elon Musk” is a snapshot of modern political warfare, where AI-generated images and four-letter acronyms on social media can carry the weight of a major political endorsement. It demonstrates how online culture and high-stakes governance are now inextricably linked. For Elon Musk, it was a way to publicly mend fences with a powerful ally and comment on a major legal proceeding. For the rest of us, it’s a reminder that in today’s political climate, the warning to not “f**k around” lest you “find out” is not just an internet joke, it’s a principle being acted out on the national stage.
