President Donald Trump has emphatically denied rumors circulating about the potential replacement of FBI Director Kash Patel. An initial report from MS NOW, citing unnamed individuals privy to internal deliberations, suggested growing dissatisfaction within the Trump administration regarding negative media coverage linked to Patel. The report further alleged that alternative candidates were being privately discussed.
When questioned directly about the possibility of replacing Patel, President Trump responded unequivocally. “No, he’s doing a good job. Kash Patel? He’s doing a great job, I think,” he stated, as reported by ANI. This strong declaration serves to reinforce Patel’s standing in his current role.
The White House swiftly moved to counter the published claims. Karoline Leavitt, the Press Secretary, dismissed the MS NOW report as entirely fabricated. She recounted being present in the Oval Office during the report’s release and observed Trump engaged in a meeting with Patel and other key law enforcement personnel. Leavitt emphasized that the President reacted with amusement to the speculation and demonstratively posed for a photograph with Patel, signaling his steadfast confidence.
The MS NOW article had specifically mentioned Andrew Bailey, a high-ranking FBI official, as a rumored frontrunner to take over from Patel. The report also quoted sources indicating Patel was in a precarious position, though noted the President’s propensity for shifting decisions.
Patel’s tenure has recently been marked by heightened attention to several issues. These include questions surrounding the security detail provided for his girlfriend, his utilization of government aircraft, and alleged disagreements with other officials within the FBI who are aligned with the President. Andrew Bailey has been previously identified as a potential successor for both the Director and Deputy Director roles, the latter currently occupied by Dan Bongino.