President-elect Trump's nomination of Kash Patel to head the FBI prompted strong reactions from supporters and critics Saturday night.
Patel's nomination signals the sweeping changes the agency is likely to undergo during the second Trump administration. Patel, an ardent supporter of Trump, is a vocal critic of government corruption and the so-called “deep state,” and has slammed the agency in the past.
In an interview on “The Sean Ryan Show” in September, Patel said the FBI's footprint “has grown tremendously.”
“I would shut down the FBI Hoover Building on the first day and reopen it as a deep state museum the next day,” Patel said.
Trump nominates Kash Patel as FBI director, “defending the truth''
The nomination of Kash Patel, an ardent supporter of President-elect Trump, was met with fierce reaction from conservatives and liberals on Saturday. (Getty Images)
President Trump has historically not been a fan of the FBI, which searched his Florida mansion in 2022 and investigated false claims that he was a Russian asset a few years ago. Most observers expect Mr. Trump to request an overhaul of the agency by the director.
“Mr. Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and 'America First' fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, upholding justice, and protecting the American people,” Trump said in a statement. said. “He played a pivotal role in debunking Russia, Russia, and Russian disinformation, and served as a champion of truth, accountability, and the Constitution.”
Patel's nomination was immediately praised by Republicans. Representative Elise Stefanik of New York, who President Trump nominated to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, called Patel an “America First warrior.” Republican Rep. Byron Donald of Florida also praised the selection.
“Great choice by @realDonaldTrump,” Donald wrote on X. “Kash is a patriot and 100% America first.”
Congressman Ronnie Jackson (R-Texas) also offered his congratulations.
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Former US Secretary of Defense Chief of Staff Kash Patel spoke at former President Donald Trump's campaign rally at the Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, Arizona, on October 13th. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
“Mr. Kash played an important role in President Trump's first term and will be even greater in his second term!” the former White House physician wrote. “Time to clean this place. Kash is the man to do it!!! MAGA!”
However, left-wing commentators criticized this choice. MSNBC's Morning Joe previously called Patel “the embodiment of MAGA anger at the Department of Justice and the FBI.”
On Saturday night, far-left commentator Mehdi Hasan accused Patel of being a “very strange, worrying, sycophantic person”. Andrew McCabe, who briefly served as acting FBI director in the Trump administration in 2017 before being fired for leaking information to the media and for a “lack of candor,” called Patel's nomination “an attempt to confuse the FBI.” , a plan to dismantle and distract.
“This is a frightening development for FBI employees, for women, and for a country that depends on a highly capable, professional and independent federal law enforcement agency,” McCabe said on CNN. “The fact that Kash Patel is completely unqualified for this job is not even up for debate.”
President Trump nominated Patel to head the FBI. (Getty Images)
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Atlantic staff writer Tom Nichols told MSNBC that Patel is “extremely dangerous.”
“I think it's a shock if we still have the ability to be shocked,” Nichols said. “But I think this is something…many of us saw it coming and, you know, it's not all that surprising. But this is an incredibly dangerous It’s unfolding.”
Two conditions must be met for Patel to be appointed. Current FBI Director Christopher Wray must resign or be fired, and Patel must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Mr. Ray has not indicated any intention to resign. On Saturday night, the FBI told FOX News Digital Ray was focused on the job at hand.
Former Defense Department Chief of Staff Kash Patel greets a crowd during a campaign rally at Minden Tahoe Airport on October 8, 2022 in Minden, Nevada. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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“Every day, FBI employees continue to work to protect the American people from a wide range of growing threats,” an FBI spokesperson said. “Director Wray remains focused on the men and women of the FBI, the people we work with, and the people we serve.”
Fox News Digital's Peter Pinedo contributed to this report.
