U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering Kash Patel, a former Pentagon official and staunch Trump ally, to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).
Patel, who has been vocal in his support for Trump and critical of his opponents, has even suggested taking revenge against those who have criticized the president.
CNN’s Manu Raju discussed the potential nomination with reporter Sara Murray, who raised concerns about Patel’s loyalty to Trump. “People are alarmed because Patel is a loyalist who might use the FBI to target Trump’s enemies, purge career officials, and declassify sensitive information,” she explained. Murray also noted that Patel had lobbied for top government positions, including FBI Director and CIA Director, but had been passed over.
The segment featured a clip of Patel from Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast, where he expressed frustration over the perceived “unlawful vengeance campaign” against Trump, stating, “Where are the guys looking to clean up their messes and their abuse of the law?”
Patel made headlines in December 2023 alongside Bannon, when they threatened MSNBC hosts with “prosecutions and accountability.” Bannon asked Patel if he was confident about delivering serious legal action once Trump returned to office, and Patel responded with a firm “yes,” emphasizing that it wasn’t just rhetoric.
In a separate podcast appearance, Patel suggested shutting down the FBI’s Hoover Building and turning it into a “Deep State museum,” proposing that its 7,000 employees be reassigned across the country to serve as law enforcement agents. Elon Musk endorsed the idea, responding with “100%.”
