Kash Patel, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, was confirmed as the new FBI Director by the Senate on Thursday with a narrow 51-49 vote, according to NBC News. While the confirmation faced opposition from Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, Patel received support from most of the Republican Party, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who had previously opposed other Trump nominees. All Senate Democrats voted against his confirmation.
On X, Dan Scavino, Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff, congratulated Patel, posting, “Congratulations to the new Director of the FBI, @Kash_Patel!”
Earlier in the week, Patel’s nomination advanced after a key procedural vote, which passed 48-45, largely along party lines. This set the stage for a 30-hour debate, culminating in the confirmation vote on Thursday.
During the Senate confirmation hearings in January, Patel strongly condemned the violence during the January 6 Capitol riots, stating that such acts should never be tolerated. He emphasized that those who engage in violence against law enforcement should be thoroughly investigated, prosecuted, and imprisoned. Patel also reaffirmed his commitment to tackling government corruption and holding officials accountable, calling public service a privilege.
Patel, who served as Deputy Assistant to the President on the National Security Council (NSC), previously led President Trump’s counterterrorism efforts. He played a key role in dismantling senior leadership in Al-Qa’ida and ISIS, as well as overseeing efforts to repatriate American hostages. As a senior counterterrorism official at the White House, Patel was responsible for implementing national security policies and strategies to protect the homeland.
