The recent appearance of FBI Director Kash Patel in the US men's hockey team locker room at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, has been met with both celebration and scrutiny. After the team's victory against Canada, Patel was seen celebrating with the athletes, an act he robustly defended in a social media post on Sunday night.
"For the very concerned media – yes, I love America and was extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys," Patel stated on his official Twitter account. He described the United States as "the greatest country on earth" and hockey as "the greatest sport on earth."
Videos that emerged online depicted Patel in the locker room wearing a gold medal, holding a beer, and engaging in singing and dancing with team members. The celebration has prompted discussions about his role and responsibilities as FBI Director, particularly in light of concurrent security incidents and his use of government resources.
According to a report by Time, Patel's trip to Milan coincided with a series of significant security events. Law enforcement officers at Mar-a-Lago in Florida neutralized an armed intruder, an incident Patel commented on, ensuring the FBI's commitment to the investigation. Concurrently, President Donald Trump was evaluating the possibility of military actions against Iran.
In Mexico, a joint operation resulting in the elimination of cartel leader "El Mencho" led to a shelter-in-place alert for US citizens. The FBI was also involved in a search for Nancy Guthrie, missing mother of Savannah Guthrie, a "Today" co-anchor.
Questions arose regarding Patel's travel arrangements to the Olympics after it was reported that he flew on a Justice Department aircraft. Spokesperson Ben Williamson clarified that the trip was official, pre-planned and included meetings with Italian law enforcement, as well as oversight of the FBI's role in Olympic security.
In December, congressional Democrats initiated a probe into Patel's use of government aircraft, which they labeled as personal, citing trips to various locations including a wrestling match in Pennsylvania, a hunting expedition in Texas, and a golf resort in Scotland. The inquiry also touched upon allegations of the FBI obscuring aircraft tracking data.
FBI policy mandates directors to use government aircraft for all travel to ensure secure communication access, with the requirement to reimburse for personal travel at coach fare rates. Williamson highlighted that Congress requires the use of government planes for FBI directors even during personal travel and noted efforts to reduce travel costs.
Before becoming director, Patel criticized the bureau's travel expenditures on his podcast, "Kash's Corner," targeting the private jet use by former FBI Director Chris Wray and other DOJ executives.
Patel's presence at the Olympic celebration and his response to media concerns highlight the ongoing debate over the appropriate use of government resources by high-ranking officials and the balance between official duties and personal activities.
