“Daggone It… Not Yet Nominated”: MAGA Celebration Cut Short After False Report on Kash Patel
(AP/File)
Supporters of Donald Trump were forced to halt their celebrations on Monday after right-wing host Steve Bannon erroneously reported that Trump had named Kash Patel as the next FBI director. The premature announcement on Bannon’s War Room broadcast sparked immediate reactions before being walked back mid-show.
“Our own Kash Patel, just named the director of the FBI,” Bannon initially claimed, calling the development “blockbuster news.” He added, “Think of the touchdown twins, Matt Gaetz at main justice at DOJ and Kash Patel at FBI.”
The announcement prompted immediate praise from conservative figures. Attorney Mike Davis hailed the (false) selection as a game-changer, calling Patel “another grand slam pick by President Trump to lead the FBI, the most broken and corrupt institution in Washington, D.C.”
Davis added, “Kash is the perfect pick. He has the experience. He has the confidence. He has the loyalty to go clean house at the FBI.” Former Department of Justice official Jeffrey Clark also endorsed Patel, citing his “excellent background” despite his ties to the “Stop the Steal” movement, which contributed to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
However, the celebration took an abrupt turn when Bannon revisited the claim. “Hang on,” he interrupted. “I think, did we misread that? He’s not nominated.” Acknowledging the error, Bannon added, “They’re saying that if he’s nominated, he’s going to destroy the FBI. Daggone it… I’m not saying it’s false news. He’s not yet nominated.”
Critics of Patel’s potential nomination, including former FBI officials, have raised concerns about his suitability for the role. Daniel Brunner, a former FBI Special Agent, warned on CNN that such an appointment could severely undermine the agency’s mission. “Putting someone like Kash Patel in the position of director of the FBI is, I believe, extremely, extremely dangerous because … his resume isn’t traditional,” Brunner said.
The incident highlights the eagerness among Trump loyalists to see high-profile appointments that align with their vision of “reform” in federal institutions like the FBI. While Patel’s nomination remains speculative, the premature announcement underscores the divisive reactions such a move would provoke, both within and outside conservative circles.
