Kash Patel sworn in as 9th FBI director

Kash PatelfBI director nominee

I am honored to be confirmed as the ninth Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation,

Patel wrote on X shortly after his confirmation

There will be no politicization at the FBI,

Patel said during his confirmation hearing

Karine Jean-Pierrewhite House press secretary

I am obviously acutely aware that my presence at this podium represents a few firsts. I am a black, gay, immigrant woman, the first of all three of those to hold this position,

Jean-Pierre said during her first briefing

Kash Patel, mark my words, will cause evil in this building behind us, and Republicans who vote for him will rue that day."

Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., in particular, drew criticism from conservatives on social media after saying

Did Sheldon Whitehouse come up with this pathetic line of attack at his all-white beach club?"

asked conservative commentator and longtime Trump adviser Steve Cortes, referencing Whitehouse's membership in an exclusive beach club that has a controversial history

President Trump nominated Kash Patel because of his qualifications and commitment to restoring integrity to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In contrast to the picture the media tries to paint, President Trump wants equality for all Americans regardless of skin color, which is why he eliminated unfair DEI policies and is restoring common sense to our country,

Harrison Fields, Principal Deputy Press Secretary, told Fox News Digital

Let good cops be cops—and rebuild trust in the FBI."

In his first statement to Fox News post-confirmation, Patel said

Interest of Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists in Radical-Traditionalist Catholic Ideology Almost Certainly Presents New Mitigation Opportunities."

In January 2023, conservative lawmakers slammed an internal FBI memo from the Richmond field office titled

I know that you, the dedicated men and women of the FBI, are courageous warriors of justice,

he wrote

Kash PatelfBI director nominee

I am honored to have been nominated and confirmed as your new Director,

Patel wrote to colleagues

Kash PatelfBI director nominee

And to those who seek to harm Americans—consider this your warning. We will hunt you down in every corner of this planet,

Patel posted to X Thursday

Kash PatelfBI director nominee

Mission First. America Always. Let's get to work,

Patel wrote

@FBIDirectorKash Patel's confirmation as FBI Director is a crucial step in executing President Trump's agenda to restore integrity and uphold the rule of law."

Sharing a post on X, the White House wrote

For January 6, I have repeatedly, publicly and privately said that there can never be a tolerance for violence against law enforcement. And anyone that commits an act of violence against law enforcement should be investigated, prosecuted and imprisoned."

During the Senate confirmation hearings, Patel said

The FBI will serve the American people and refocus on its core mission: enforcing justice fairly and without bias,

the post added

Lindsey Grahamsenate Budget Committee Chair

Without this bill passing, ... there is no hope of getting money for the border.”

said Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

We also have the head of Pfizer here. So I want to thank him, one of the great, great people, one of the great businessmen,

Trump said, as the crowd booed

I thought that someone with his business acumen would have come in with a fine-tooth comb and actually found it instead of coming in with a wrecking ball and destroying people’s lives for no reason,

he added

You've been an inspiration to people, and we're going to be listening to your recommendation on pardons. ... She's going to be my pardon czar,

he said, noting that the Johnson

Rick Scottflorida Senator

They’re the past. Their voices no longer matter. Their shadow can no longer hang over politics. They lost. The American people won,

Scott said