‘Totally false’: White House dismisses report that Trump may replace FBI Director Kash Patel

Donald Trump with FBI's Kash Patel

The White House on Tuesday denied a report that US President Donald Trump is considering removing FBI Director Kash Patel, following claims that the president was weighing Patel's ouster amid controversies over his conduct.

MS NOW reported that Donald Trump was evaluating whether to replace Patel with FBI co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey, citing concerns about Patel’s social media activity during active investigations and his alleged use of a government jet to visit his girlfriend.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the report outright, posting on X:
“This story is completely made up.”

Leavitt added that the report was false even as the president was meeting Patel at that moment.
“In fact, when this Fake News published, I was in the Oval Office, where President Trump was meeting with his law enforcement team, including FBI Director Kash Patel,” she wrote.

This story is completely made up.

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In fact, when this Fake News published, I was in the Oval Office, where President Trump was meeting with his law enforcement team, including FBI Director Kash Patel.

I read the headline to the President and he laughed. He said: “What? That’s… https://t.co/qbsy0nW2Bg pic.twitter.com/aNL5Qw9MA8

— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) November 25, 2025

She said she read the headline aloud to Trump, who “laughed.”
“He said: ‘What? That’s totally false. Come on Kash, let’s take a picture to show them you’re doing a great job!’”

Kash Patel, the FBI Director, is under heightened scrutiny over his use of bureau resources, including a security detail for his girlfriend and a government jet, and for infighting with other Trump allies, MS Now reported.

According to the outlet, Trump and senior White House aides have privately told associates that the president is considering whether to remove Patel. The report also said Trump is weighing top FBI official Andrew Bailey as a potential successor.

MS Now said Patel is “on thin ice,” with his exit “closer than ever,” and Bailey emerging as the “most likely replacement”, while noting that Trump could still “shift course in the weeks ahead.”

In response, the White House defended Patel, telling the outlet, “President Trump has assembled the most talented and impressive Administration in history and they are doing an excellent job carrying out the President’s agenda. FBI Director Patel is a critical member of the President’s team and he is working tirelessly to restore integrity to the FBI.”

Trump also publicly praised Patel on Tuesday during the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon, calling him “very busy doing a great job.” Last week, he told Fox News Channel’s Brian Kilmeade:
“I do have confidence in Kash, a lot of confidence, and the DOJ.”

The report added that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has grown frustrated with both Patel and Dan Bongino, particularly because Patel has posted on social media “at the wrong time” and boasted prematurely about case developments. Officials fear those posts could jeopardize investigations.

Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche have also been irritated by repeated reports of Patel’s questionable use of taxpayer-funded resources.

Those concerns include allegations from a self-described whistleblower claiming Patel used a government jet for what critics labeled a “date night” to watch his girlfriend perform in State College, Pennsylvania. The report also said he assigned elite SWAT agents to serve as her security detail.

*With Agency Inputs