Trump Names Kash Patel as FBI Director

President-elect Donald Trump has announced his intention to appoint Kash Patel, a loyal former aide and critic of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as its new director. Patel, who served as chief of staff at the Department of Defense during Trump’s first term, has been a vocal supporter of Trump and a frequent critic of the FBI.

For Patel to assume the role, current FBI Director Christopher Wray would need to resign or be removed from office. However, Trump did not explicitly call for Wray’s resignation in his announcement.

Trump praised Patel on his social media platform, Truth Social, calling him “a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and ‘America First’ fighter.” He added that Patel had “spent his career exposing corruption, defending justice, and protecting the American people.”

Patel has been a polarizing figure, previously involved in efforts to discredit the FBI’s Russia investigation during his time in Congress and as a key figure in Trump’s administration.

In addition to Patel, Trump has announced other key appointments:

• Chad Chronister, the sheriff of Hillsborough County, Florida, has been tapped to lead the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).
• Pam Bondi, former Florida attorney general, has been nominated for the role of Attorney General.

Trump also revealed his choice of Charles Kushner—a real estate developer and father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner—as the U.S. ambassador to France. The nomination marks the first administration role Trump has formally offered to a relative since securing re-election.

The nominations have sparked mixed reactions. Supporters tout Patel’s legal acumen and unwavering loyalty to Trump’s agenda, while critics have expressed concerns over potential politicization of the FBI under Patel’s leadership. Similarly, Kushner’s nomination has raised questions about nepotism in Trump’s cabinet picks.