On Thursday, close Donald Trump loyalist Kash Patel was officially confirmed as the director of the FBI. He pledged to transform the agency into something that the American people could be proud of.
Indian-origin Kash Patel said that the FBI will now “hunt you down in every corner of this planet” to anyone who tries to “harm America” after the Senate ratified his appointment as director on Thursday.
In his thank-you statement after being confirmed, Patel promised to transform the FBI into a “transparent, accountable, and committed to justice” organization. He expressed gratitude to Attorney General Pam Bondi and President Donald Trump for their assistance, emphasizing his commitment to rebuilding public confidence in the FBI.
“I am honored to have been confirmed as the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s ninth director. I want to thank Attorney General Bondi and President Trump for your steadfast support and trust.
From the ‘G-Men’ to our nation’s defenders after 2001, the FBI has a lengthy history, and the American people deserve an FBI that is open, accountable, and dedicated to justice. Public trust has been damaged by the politicization of our legal system, but Patel said on X that this is no longer the case.
While he faced opposition from Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, he gained the support of other Republican senators, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who had previously opposed other Trump candidates.
All Senate Democrats voted against him, and the confirmation was approved by a slim 51-49 margin.
With strong Republican backing, Patel successfully navigated a significant procedural obstacle earlier this week. According to the New York Post, the Senate advanced his nomination Tuesday by a party-line vote of 48-45, sparking a 30-hour debate before the ultimate ratification on Thursday.
