President-elect Donald Trump has entrusted a significant responsibility to Indian-origin Gujarati, Kash Patel. Trump has appointed Kash Patel as the Director of the FBI. Patel is considered to be very close to Trump. In 2017, Patel became a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He is known for his radical views about the American intelligence community.
Trump wrote on Saturday night on his social media platform, Truth, "I am proud to announce that Kashyap 'Kash' Patel will serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and 'America First' fighter, who has dedicated his career to exposing corruption, safeguarding justice, and protecting the American people."
This selection aligns with Trump's perspective that the law enforcement and intelligence agencies of the government require substantial reform. The decision signals that Trump harbors a desire for retribution against his potential opponents.
This decision from Trump indicates his lingering frustration with federal investigations that impacted his first term and led to subsequent indictments. By appointing close allies in the FBI and Justice Department, Trump is signaling that these appointments will prioritize protection over investigation.
Trump wrote on Saturday night, "Patel played a crucial role in exposing the Russian hoax and stood as a proponent of truth, accountability, and the Constitution." It remains unclear whether Patel will be confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate.
Patel will succeed Christopher Wray, whom Trump appointed in 2017, but with whom he eventually clashed. Although the position carries a ten-year term, Wray's removal was not unexpected, as Trump has long criticized both him and the FBI.
The 44-year-old Kash Patel, whose full name is Kashyap Pramod Patel, was born in New York. His family hails from Vadodara, Gujarat, and he is a lawyer by profession. He is counted among Trump's close associates. During Trump's first term, he served as the Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council.
