U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has announced Kash Patel, a loyal ally and former Pentagon official, as his pick for the next director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The announcement, made on Trump’s Truth Social platform, signals his intention to replace the current FBI Director, Christopher Wray, who was appointed in 2017 to a 10-year term.
Trump praised Patel as a “brilliant lawyer, investigator, and America First fighter” who has exposed corruption and defended justice. A staunch supporter of the president-elect, Patel has championed the controversial notion of a government “deep state” working against Trump, even authoring a book on the topic.
Patel, a son of Indian immigrants, held several high-profile positions during Trump’s first term, including roles as a national security advisor and chief of staff to the acting defense secretary. Trump credited him with exceptional service and stated that, if appointed, Patel would focus on combating crime, dismantling migrant criminal gangs, and tackling human and drug trafficking.
The move comes as Trump seeks to appoint loyalists to key positions. Alongside Patel, Trump has nominated Chad Chronister, a Florida sheriff, as the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Pam Bondi, a close ally and former Florida attorney general, to lead the Department of Justice.
Wray, appointed by Trump during his first term, has overseen several investigations that angered the president-elect, including a probe into his ties to Russia and the 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago for top-secret documents. The FBI under Wray also pursued cases against Trump supporters involved in the January 6 Capitol riots.
The nominations reflect Trump’s strategy of installing loyal appointees to implement his policy agenda and vision.
