WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Kash Patel to head the FBI, finalizing one of the last remaining presidential appointments just two months before his inauguration.
“Kash is an exceptional lawyer, investigator, and ‘America First’ advocate who has dedicated his career to uncovering corruption, upholding justice, and safeguarding the American people,” Trump posted on Truth Social Saturday evening. “He played a crucial role in debunking the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, standing firm for truth, accountability, and the Constitution,” he added.
“This FBI will tackle the rising crime wave in America, dismantle migrant criminal networks, and halt the vile scourge of human and drug trafficking across the border. Kash will collaborate with our outstanding Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to restore Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity to the FBI.”
Patel brings extensive experience, having previously served as a public defender and later as an attorney for the US Justice Department’s national security division. He also held multiple intelligence and national security positions during Trump’s first term.
He was a top contender among the MAGA supporters, who believe he can reform the bureau and reverse its history of targeting conservatives during the Trump era.
The New York native is renowned for his unwavering loyalty to Trump, which has made him a target for the left despite his roles as a National Security Council official, senior adviser to the acting Director of National Intelligence, and chief of staff to the acting United States secretary of defense.
This loyalty has infuriated Democrats, with numerous commentators on left-leaning networks criticizing him. Former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe on CNN warned that “no part of the FBI’s mission is safe with Kash Patel in any leadership position in the FBI.”
“It’s unimaginable to me that an outsider with no experience in the organization, no understanding of the work and the scope of authority involved, could perform adequately,” McCabe said, recalling his own firing by Trump just 26 hours before his 2018 retirement.
McCabe, who clashed with Trump over the FBI’s investigation into Trump-Russia collusion, pursued the discredited Steele dossier, and was dismissed as acting director for leaking sensitive information to a journalist, cautioned against Patel’s appointment.
Initial media reports raised concerns about his confirmability, but Patel’s supporters highlight his extensive credentials within the Justice Department and national security field as evidence that he is the best candidate for the job.
“Despite media concerns about confirmation, he’s highly accomplished in counterterrorism, defense, intelligence, and the law,” a source close to the transition team told The Post. “Just review his resume; he’s a strong fit for this role.”
Patel received early backing from Trump ally and future co-head of the new administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk, who supported the idea of a full-time “declassification office” to enhance transparency in the federal government.
However, the selection of this sometimes controversial figure may unsettle Washington, which was already rattled by Trump’s previous choice of former Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general before he withdrew from consideration.
The Post has contacted the Trump-Vance transition team for comment.
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