President-elect Donald Trump's announcement that he would install his longtime ally Kash Patel to lead the FBI has been widely praised by MAGA believers, but critics believe he has thrown a wrecking ball at the FBI. I'm worried that I might bring it in.
FBI Director Christopher Wray has three years left in his term, but President Trump, 78, has given him the power to fire him and replace him with Patel, 44, who had previously been considered for another position. I will have it.
Patel came to the attention of the MAGA movement during the Trump administration when she worked as an aide to former Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), the 45th president and soon to be the 47th president. We investigated the government's actions regarding the Russian collusion theory. .
Patel later served as a staff member on the National Security Council, senior advisor to the acting director of national intelligence, and chief of staff to the acting secretary of defense during the Trump administration.
Trump supporters have praised Mr. Patel's selection, and he has floated the idea of shutting down FBI headquarters in the Hooverville on “day one” and opening a “deep state museum” in its place.
“Kash Patel was the Deputy Director of National Intelligence when I was on active duty. I can't tell you how many people said to me, 'Wow.' He is not what the media portrays him to be. I love him,” said Rick Grenell, former acting director of national intelligence. Posted in X.
“In Kash Patel's own words, why we need deep reform from the top. This is the best choice for FBI director.” Critic Tim Poole argued that The video shows Patel criticizing the “two-tiered justice system” based on his own politics.
Former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe expressed alarm at Trump's choice of Patel, criticizing her on CNN as unqualified. Some MAGA believers were delighted by McCabe's strong response.
“Andrew McCabe was part of a deep state conspiracy to overthrow President Trump. If you're this furious about Kash Patel becoming FBI Director on CNN, Trump made the perfect choice.” That's it,” conservative influencer Robbie Starbuck said. Posted in X McCabe.Se with clip
“Kash Patel served as senior director of counterterrorism when I was National Security Advisor to the president. I could trust him to handle some of this country's most sensitive issues with care and sensitivity.” Former National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said:.
Several Republican senators have heralded Patel's appointment, but it appears likely that she would face a tough confirmation process in the Senate.
“As FBI Director, I look forward to working with Kash Patel to release Epstein's flight logs and black book. Under the Trump administration, the American people will have answers,” said Sen. Marsha Blackburn (Sen. Republican, Tennessee) said. Posted in X.
“Chris Wray failed in his fundamental duties as FBI director.” [shown] despise [Congressional] There were oversights and promises not kept. 2 It's time to create new policy 4 transparency and accountability at the FBI. ” Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said:.
But Grassley added skepticism: “Kash Patel must prove to Congress that he intends to reform the FBI and restore public trust.”
Critics decried Patel's unwavering loyalty to President Trump and argued that the FBI director should be more apolitical than he is.
John Bolton, President Trump's former national security adviser, likened his nomination to that of Joseph Stalin's infamous secret police chief.
“Trump nominated Kash Patel to be his Lavrenti Beria. Fortunately, the FBI is not the NKVD. The Senate should reject this nomination 100-0,” Bolton said in a statement.
Tim Miller, Jeb Bush's former communications director turned staunch Trump opponent, slammed Patel as “the most dangerous candidate we've ever seen for our democracy.” .
Critics also pointed to former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr's past criticism of Patel in his 2022 book “One Damn Thing After Another.”
“I was adamantly opposed to making Patel deputy director of the FBI. I told Mark Meadows it would happen 'over my dead body,'” he wrote. “A person without a background as an agent will never be able to command the respect necessary to carry out the day-to-day operations of the bureau.”
During President Trump's first term, allies of the president-elect pondered various roles for Patel. As deputy to the CIA director.
Patel would need to be approved by the Senate to be confirmed as full-fledged FBI director. Republicans are expected to win a majority of 53 seats, meaning he can only lose four votes (the vice president will be the tiebreaker).
President Trump has indicated he may seek to bypass the Senate confirmation process, but that could be blocked by defectors from the Republican Party.
The next president could theoretically try to avoid Senate intervention by appointing him acting director of the FBI, a position that could last about 210 days.
