President-elect Donald Trump announced on Saturday his intention to appoint loyalist Kash Patel as the next director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, signaling a major leadership shift at the agency.
Patel, a former Pentagon official and advisor, has been a vocal critic of the FBI and a proponent of the controversial “deep state” theory, which alleges a network of bureaucrats undermining Trump’s agenda. Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, praising Patel as a “brilliant lawyer, investigator, and ‘America First’ fighter.”
The current FBI director, Christopher Wray, appointed to a 10-year term in 2017, could be forced to step down or be dismissed to make way for Patel. Wray, originally appointed by Trump, has been at odds with the president-elect after overseeing investigations into Trump, including the high-profile search of his Mar-a-Lago estate in 2022 for classified documents.
“Kash did an incredible job during my First Term,” Trump said, highlighting Patel’s efforts to “expose corruption, defend Justice, and protect the American People.” He added that Patel would focus on addressing crime, dismantling migrant criminal gangs, and combating human and drug trafficking.
Patel, the son of Indian immigrants, held several senior roles during Trump’s first term, including as a national security advisor and chief of staff to the acting defense secretary. He has authored a book endorsing the notion of a government “deep state” working against Trump.
Wray initially succeeded James Comey, whom Trump fired during his first term amid an FBI investigation into alleged ties between Trump and Russia. The bureau’s subsequent probe into Trump’s own actions further strained the relationship.
Patel’s nomination is expected to provoke significant debate as Trump seeks to reshape key institutions ahead of his return to office.
