Kash Patel's nomination sparks enthusiasm, anxiety; future of the FBI appears uncertain
President-elect Trump's nomination of Kash Patel as FBI director evoked strong reactions from supporters and critics Saturday night.
Patel's nomination hints at massive changes the agency will likely undergo during the second Trump administration. As a staunch supporter of Trump, Patel is a fierce critic of government corruption and the so-called "deep state" and has blasted the bureau in the past.
In a September interview with "The Shawn Ryan Show," Patel said the FBI's footprint "has gotten so frickin' big."
"I would shut down the FBI Hoover Building on day one and reopen the next day as a museum of the deep state," Patel said.
TRUMP NOMINATES KASH PATEL TO SERVE AS FBI DIRECTOR: 'ADVOCATE FOR TRUTH'
Trump has not historically been a fan of the FBI, which raided his Florida estate in 2022 and years earlier investigated false claims he was a Russian asset. Most observers expect Trump will demand an agency overhaul by his director.
"Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and ‘America First’ fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the American People," Trump said in a statement. "He played a pivotal role in uncovering the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, standing as an advocate for truth, accountability, and the Constitution."
Patel's nomination was met with instant praise from Republicans. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., Trump's pick for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, called Patel an "America First fighter." Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., also praised the pick.
"Great choice by @realDonaldTrump," Donalds wrote on X. "Kash is a patriot and 100% America First."
Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, also issued his congratulations.
"Kash was INSTRUMENTAL in President Trump’s first term and will be EVEN GREATER in his second!" the former White House physician wrote. "Time to clean this place up, and Kash is the man to do it!!! MAGA!"
Commentators on the left, however, panned the pick. MSNBC’s Morning Joe previously called Patel the "personification of MAGA rage about the Justice Department and the FBI."
On Saturday night, far-left commentator Mehdi Hasan accused Patel of being a "deeply strange and alarming and sycophantic figure." Andrew McCabe, who briefly served as acting FBI director under Trump in 2017 before being fired for allegedly leaking to the media and a "lack of candor," called Patel's nomination "a plan to disrupt, to dismantle, to distract the FBI."
"It's a terrible development for the men and women of the FBI and also for the nation that depends on a highly functioning, professional, independent Federal Bureau of Investigation," McCabe said on CNN. "The fact that Kash Patel is profoundly unqualified for this job is not even, like, a matter for debate."
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Tom Nichols, a staff writer for The Atlantic, told MSNBC Patel is "as dangerous as it gets."
"I suppose if we still have the ability to be shocked, it’s shocking," Nichols said. "But I think this is something … many of us saw it coming and, you know, shouldn’t be that surprising. But it’s an incredibly dangerous development."
Two conditions will need to be met for Patel to take office. Current FBI Director Christopher Wray will either need to resign or be fired, and Patel will need to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Wray has not signaled an intent to resign. On Saturday night, the FBI told Fox News Digital Wray is focused on his work at hand.
"Every day, the men and women of the FBI continue to work to protect Americans from a growing array of threats," an FBI spokesperson said. "Director Wray's focus remains on the men and women of the FBI, the people we do the work with and the people we do the work for."
Fox News Digital's Peter Pinedo contributed to this report.