The White House is pushing back against a report from MS NOW claiming that President Trump is thinking about ejecting FBI Director Kash Patel from his position amid recent controversies surrounding his management of FBI resources.
During a recent Oval Office meeting with Patel, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to the news story by sharing its headline with Trump. She said the president reacted by saying, “What? That’s completely untrue. Come on, Kash, let’s snap a pic to show everyone you’re doing a great job!”
Leavitt then posted a photo of the duo, both flashing thumbs up. Later, as Trump boarded Air Force One en route to Florida, he was asked about any intentions to replace Patel, to which he simply replied, “No.”
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According to MS NOW, who cited three unnamed sources, both Trump and his close associates have expressed worry over negative reporting about Patel. In a statement following Leavitt’s post, a spokesperson for MS NOW confirmed that the outlet stands by their story.
Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that a SWAT team from the FBI was assigned to protect Patel’s girlfriend at a recent National Rifle Association event in Atlanta. Additionally, it was revealed that Patel allegedly utilized a government airplane for personal trips.
On November 25, Patel was present at the White House for Trump’s annual turkey pardon event, where the president publicly acknowledged him, saying that Patel is “very busy doing a great job.”
A former attorney from the Justice Department and past congressional staff member, Patel’s appointment to lead the FBI faced criticism. Senator Dick Durbin from Illinois stated during Patel’s confirmation hearing that he lacked the “experience, the temperament or the judgment” required for such a role.
Patel has been a pivotal figure in Trump’s assertive enforcement of federal laws, actions that have stirred significant unrest within the Bureau. Furthermore, a federal lawsuit filed on September 10 alleges that Patel authorized the illegal firing of top FBI executives on Trump’s orders to transform the agency into a political entity serving the White House.
Updates have been made to this story to include the latest information.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: White House denies report of Trump considering removing FBI director
