By Daniel OrtonShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberPresident Donald Trump denied a recent report that he was looking to replace FBI Director Kash Patel, as the nation's top federal investigator faces mounting criticism and negative press coverage.
"No, he's doing a good job," the president said in response to question from a reporter aboard Air Force One on Tuesday. "Kash Patel? No, he's doing a great job, I think."
It follows White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's denial of the report in a post on X earlier Tuesday. "This story is completely made up," she wrote. "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."
MSNOW first reported on rumors that Trump was considering firing Patel, citing three anonymous sources. The outlet reported that Patel might be replaced by senior FBI official Andrew Bailey, who was made co-deputy director of the bureau in September, joining Dan Bongino.
...It comes amid mounting criticism of Patel's leadership of the FBI. In September, the agency was criticized over the time it took to find a suspect following the assassination of 31-year-old right-wing activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
Patel also took to social media to announce that a suspect was in custody, hours after the shooting. That claim turned out to be false. Local authorities clarified that individual had been questioned and released.
Also in September, three former FBI officials filed a federal lawsuit accusing Patel of orchestrating a purge of bureau leadership and overseeing a rampant politicization of the bureau. The plaintiffs, former FBI acting director Brian Driscoll, former assistant director Steven Jensen and former special agent Spencer Evans claimed they were fired because they had worked on past investigations involving Trump or resisted pressure to retaliate against former colleagues.
Patel has also attracted scrutiny for using a government aircraft and security details to protect his girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins. The agency said Wilkins had faced hundreds of death threats.
More to follow.
Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI Guidelines
Add Newsweek as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Recommended For You
NewsTrump May Defeat Maduro Without Battle and Lose War in Venezuela14 min read
NewsUncommon Knowledge: Trans Book Bans Often Backfire—On Their Creators5 min read
NewsUrgent Tornado Warning Issued, Severe Storms Threaten Mississippi, Louisiana: Live Updates1 min read
NewsWoman Faces Deportation After Allegedly Throwing Coffee on Baby3 min read
NewsPrice Correction ‘Worse Than 2008’ Coming To US Housing Market—Analyst5 min read
WorldTrump Caught in China’s Flashpoint Dispute With Key US Ally4 min readRelated Podcasts
Top Stories
PoliticsHow China’s Growing Nuclear Strength Is Keeping Russia in Check11 min read
WorldTrump Sending Witkoff to Moscow, End of Russia-Ukraine War in Reach—Live3 min read
NewsDefiant Maduro Rallies Venezuela for US War4 min read
NewsThanksgiving Travel Warning Issued As ‘Major Snowstorm’ To Strike3 min read
NewsGOP Senator Defends Mark Kelly, Calls Treason Accusations ‘Reckless’4 min read
U.S.Kristi Noem Among Those Named in Judge’s Criminal Inquiry: Full List2 min readTrending
MoneyNew ‘Cash Law’ Could Change Grocery Store Rules3 min read
SnowfallWinter Storm Warning Issued As 25 Inches of Snow To Strike5 min read
U.S. Economy‘Mass Blackout’ Starts Today: What to Know3 min readHome PricesPrice Correction ‘Worse Than 2008’ Coming To US Housing Market—Analyst5 min read
National Weather ServiceWinter Storm Alert Issued as 12 Inches of Snow Set To Hit3 min readOpinion
OpinionWhen Strength Becomes a Burden—Reimagining the Strong Black Woman | Opinion4 min read
OpinionConventional Wisdom: Trump Turkey Pardoning Edition3 min read
OpinionDoes the US Need a Third Political Party? Newsweek Contributors Debate5 min read
OpinionGOP Rep.: The U.S. Must Close Critical AI Chip Export Loophole Exploited by China | Opinion5 min read
OpinionAgriculture Secretary: Giving Thanks to the American Farmer This Thanksgiving | Opinion4 min read
