D. Trump picks Kash Patel to lead the FBI

Another controversial pick: Kash Patel nominated to lead FBI with plans of dramatically reshaping the agency

Donald Trump continues his dramatic announcements regarding his administration picks. Kash Patel is nominated to become FBI director. President-elect D. Trump intends to appoint K. Patel, an ally and former national security aide who criticized the Justice Department in the media. He would replace Christopher Wray as the Federal Bureau of Investigations director^[1].

This position is typically held for 10 years. C. Wray himself was appointed by Trump back in 2017. K. Patel vowed to fire the agency's leadership and reshape its mission. This statement was met with bipartisan concern that such an appointment could undermine the agency's independence.

"The biggest problem the FBI has had, has come out of its intel shops. I'd break that component out of it. I'd shut down the FBI Hoover building on day one and reopen it the next day as a museum of the deep state," Patel said in a September interview.

K. Patel heavily criticized the agency and called for the dismantling of the headquarters with a plan to turn it into a "museum of the deep state." During the first term of Trump's presidency, K. Patel advised both the director of national intelligence and the secretary of defense.

Left-wing commentators showed concern over this pick

On Saturday, Donald Trump announced his intention to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray, whom he appointed during his first term. The decision has stirred controversy, with media outlets labeling Kash Patel, Trump’s rumored pick for the role, as a polarizing figure due to his strong opposition to what he calls the "deep state."

Critics, especially from the left, have expressed alarm over the potential for increased politicization of the FBI under K. Patel. Some worry he could act as a Trump loyalist, using his position to dismantle the agency or target political opponents.

Juliette Kayyem, a former Obama administration official, accused Patel of being motivated by revenge rather than a clear vision for law enforcement. "Patel doesn’t have a strategy for reducing crime or addressing financial misconduct. He exists to carry out Trump’s so-called 'revenge tour' in a second term," Kayyem stated.

Rep. Jamie Raskin echoed these concerns, accusing Trump of wanting a director who prioritizes loyalty over independence. He dismissed claims of the FBI being weaponized, arguing that the agency has shown impartiality by prosecuting members of both parties, including prominent Democrats.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan criticized Trump’s push to replace Wray, highlighting the importance of the FBI’s independence. "Trump himself appointed Christopher Wray and has been allowed to fulfill his duties under the Biden administration without interference," Sullivan said. He emphasized that maintaining the FBI’s independence from political pressures is a cornerstone of democracy^[2].

Republicans had a more positive response to the nomination

This announcement caused many responses over the weekend. Republicans and others supporting D. Trump and his views and changes in the administration commented on the pick positively. Sen. Ted Cruz said that Kash Patel, 44, a former Justice Department prosecutor, is a "very strong nominee" for the FBI director. He believes that Patel could take on the partisan corruption in the agency and praises his "serious, professional background."

"All of the weeping and gnashing of teeth, all of the people pulling their hair out are exactly the people who are dismayed about having a real reformer come into the FBI and clean out the corrupted partisans who sadly have burrowed into senior career positions at the FBI," T. Cruz said^[3].

New York Rep. Mike Lawler stated that this should not be a surprise for people. "Donald Trump campaigned on reforming the FBI and the Department of Justice, so I don't know why any of this is frankly surprising to people... Trump has nominated in Kash Patel someone who has served as chief of staff at the Department of Defense…deputy director of the NSI... senior staffer on the House Intelligence Committee. The fact is our system of justice needs to be de-politized, and unfortunately, under the Biden administration, we have seen it weaponized, and it's wrong."

Sen. Bill Hagerty also addressed the news, saying he encouraged Trump to name Patel as the FBI director because Patel represents the type of change they want to see in the agency. "It’s not doing its job. There are serious problems at the FBI. The American public knows it. They expect to see sweeping change, and Kash Patel is just the type of person to do it."

When asked about the nomination, the FBI responded: "Every day, the men and women of the FBI continue to work to protect Americans from a growing array of threats. Director Wray focuses on the men and women of the FBI, the people we work with, and the people we do the work for."

Trump’s history with the FBI has been tumultuous

The role of the FBI director is uniquely structured with a 10-year term designed to protect the agency’s independence from political shifts. This policy was established after the Watergate scandal to prevent abuses of power like those under President Richard Nixon.

During his presidency, he frequently criticized the agency, accusing it of bias and incompetence, often without evidence. His frustration with Wray dates back to his first term when he complained that the director wasn’t doing enough to support his reelection campaign or investigate political rival, Joe Biden^[4].

While Trump’s announcement has drawn attention, it doesn’t constitute a formal nomination. For K. Patel to become FBI director, Wray would need to step down or be dismissed before the end of his term. Such a move would break the tradition of ensuring stability and nonpartisanship in the FBI’s leadership.

As D. Trump continues to roll out his proposed appointments, his critics see a pattern of placing loyalists in key positions. Supporters argue this is part of his effort to reform institutions he views as obstructive or hostile. Whether Patel’s potential leadership would serve reform or revenge remains a divisive question.