Time for Trump to Fire FBI Director Kash Patel — The Nation Can’t Afford His Leadership

Kash Patel, the FBI director installed by Donald Trump, has long been a liability to one of America’s most critical law enforcement agencies. But a damning report from The Atlantic reveals a new low: Patel has reportedly been so intoxicated on duty that his security detail struggled to wake him, even needing SWAT equipment to get through locked doors. This is not just embarrassing — it is a national security risk.

Patel’s tenure has been marked by scandal and mismanagement from the start. He has used FBI jets for personal vacations and dates, demanded SWAT escorts for his girlfriend’s errands, and even flew to Milan to watch the Olympics at taxpayer expense, where he was caught on camera chugging beer with athletes. House Democrats have opened probes into his misuse of government resources, but that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Beyond personal excess, Patel’s leadership style has compromised the FBI’s core mission. He has made reckless public statements that muddled investigations, such as prematurely announcing arrests that never happened during a manhunt. More disturbingly, Patel has purged agents for political reasons, targeting those who protested racial injustice or investigated Trump’s own wrongdoing, including the January 6 Capitol attack.

A 115-page report from current and former FBI agents paints a grim picture: Patel is “in over his head,” turning the FBI into a “rudderless ship.” The agency charged with protecting Americans is being led by someone whose loyalty to Trump undermines its independence and effectiveness.

Patel’s own defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic cannot erase the mounting evidence of his unfitness for office. The FBI deserves leadership that prioritizes national security and the rule of law — not a partisan loyalist who abuses power and shirks responsibility.

For the sake of the country and the integrity of its institutions, Kash Patel must go. If Trump refuses to fire him, Congress must investigate and hold Patel accountable before more damage is done. The FBI cannot afford to be led by a man who is literally sleeping on the job.