(Image source from: x.com/PressSec)
The White House has refuted claims that Donald Trump was thinking about firing FBI Director Kash Patel after a report suggested that the president is considering his removal due to several issues. MS NOW mentioned on Tuesday that Trump was thinking of replacing Patel with Andrew Bailey, who is the co-Deputy Director of the FBI. There have been worries regarding Patel's social media activity during important investigations and his use of a government plane for trips to see his girlfriend. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on X, "This story is entirely false." Bailey, who is a former attorney general from Missouri, has long been viewed as a potential candidate to take over for both Patel and his other deputy, Dan Bongino, who is more recognized for his conservative views than for his law enforcement background.
This story is completely made up.
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) November 25, 2025
In fact, when this Fake News published, I was in the Oval Office, where President Trump was meeting with his law enforcement team, including FBI Director Kash Patel.
I read the headline to the President and he laughed. He said: “What? That’s… https://t.co/qbsy0nW2Bg pic.twitter.com/aNL5Qw9MA8
The FBI did not reply right away to a request for comments about the report. In an interview with Fox News Radio last week, Trump also spoke positively about Patel, expressing that he had "a lot of confidence" in him. However, Patel's actions have faced increased examination recently. The New York Times reported that the FBI sent a SWAT team to provide protection for Alexis Wilkins, his girlfriend who is also a country music singer. Patel has utilized government planes for trips to see Wilkins as well as for personal leisure, including a golf outing. The director justified this as normal practice to ensure he could access secure communication tools. Legal professionals have also highlighted moments where Patel shared details about ongoing investigations on social media, such as during the search for the person accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk and what the FBI labeled as a planned Halloween terror plot in Michigan.
