Recent speculation suggesting FBI Director Kash Patel might be replaced has been directly addressed by President Donald Trump, who has strongly refuted these claims. Reports, including one from MS NOW, indicated that Trump and his advisors were considering a change at the FBI leadership due to negative press surrounding Patel. The outlet cited anonymous sources close to internal discussions, suggesting that potential successors were being explored.
However, President Trump publicly dismissed these rumors, stating, “No, he’s doing a good job. Kash Patel? He’s doing a great job, I think.” This clear endorsement aims to quell any uncertainty about Patel’s position within the administration.
The White House has also actively pushed back against the reports. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized the MS NOW story as “completely made up,” adding that she witnessed the President meeting with Patel and other law enforcement officials when the news broke. She further elaborated that Trump was amused by the speculation and even took a photo with Patel to emphasize his support and confidence in the FBI Director.
Despite the official denials, the initial report from MS NOW had named Andrew Bailey, a senior FBI official, as a potential candidate to succeed Patel. The same report suggested that Patel was under pressure, although the possibility of Trump changing his mind was also acknowledged.
Kash Patel has been the subject of increased scrutiny concerning his leadership of the bureau. Issues raised include his security detail arrangements, the use of government aircraft, and reported internal friction with other Trump-aligned figures within the FBI. Andrew Bailey has previously been mentioned as a possible candidate not only for the FBI Director role but also for the Deputy Director position, which is currently held by Dan Bongino.
