President-elect Donald Trump has selected Kash Patel to lead the FBI, closing one of the last remaining presidentially appointed positions available two months before taking office — and putting current bureau boss Christopher Wray’s tenure on the chopping block before his term expires.
“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 wrote on Truth Social Saturday night.
“He played a pivotal role in uncovering the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, standing as an advocate for truth, accountability, and the Constitution,” he continued.
The announcement comes after Trump spent years at odds with Wray, who he nominated to head the bureau in August 2017 after firing James Comey.
Patel won the early support of Trump confidant and soon-to-be co-head of the new administration’s Department of Government Efficiency Elon Musk, who issued his support in a post to X said that suggested Patel for the role after he suggested there should be a full-time “declassification office” to increase transparency in the federal government.