By Dan Gooding and Gabe WhisnantShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe White House has reacted to reports President Donald Trump has been privately weighing whether to replace FBI Director Kash Patel, as he and senior advisers grow uneasy with the steady stream of unfavorable coverage surrounding Patel.
Three people familiar with the matter told MSNOW that the president was considering the move on Tuesday, but White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denied the report.
"This story is completely made up," Leavitt said in a post on X the White House referred Newsweek to. "In fact, when this Fake News published, I was in the Oval Office, where President Trump was meeting with his law enforcement team, including FBI Director Kash Patel."
Patel has drawn internal criticism over his handling of bureau resources — including a government aircraft and security assigned to his girlfriend — as well as tensions with other Trump-aligned officials, the network reported. Trump and top aides have told associates the president is looking at elevating senior FBI official Andrew Bailey as a possible successor, the people said.
Two of the sources described Patel’s standing to MSNOW as increasingly precarious, even as Trump continues to publicly voice support for him.
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Updates: 11/25/25, 3:11 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks from Karoline Leavitt. The headline has been updated with the White House's denial of the report.
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