White House Refutes Reports of FBI Director Kash Patel's Potential Dismissal Amid Controversies

Amid swirling controversies, the White House has firmly denied reports that President Donald Trump is considering the removal of FBI Director Kash Patel from his position.

MS NOW published a report Tuesday suggesting President Trump was contemplating replacing Patel with FBI co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey. The report cited concerns about Patel's social media activity during high-profile investigations and allegations regarding his use of government aircraft to visit his girlfriend.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt swiftly responded on platform X, stating: "This story is completely made up." She elaborated that when the news broke, she was present in the Oval Office where President Trump was meeting with his law enforcement team, including Director Patel. According to Leavitt, when she read the headline to the President, he laughed in disbelief.

Bailey, who previously served as Missouri's attorney general, has long been speculated as a potential replacement for both Patel and fellow deputy Dan Bongino. Critics have noted that both current deputies are more recognized for their conservative political commentary than for extensive law enforcement experience.

The FBI did not provide an immediate response when asked to comment on the report.

In a recent interview with Fox News Radio, President Trump expressed strong support for Patel, stating he had "a lot of confidence" in the FBI Director.

Nevertheless, Patel's conduct has attracted increasing scrutiny. The New York Times reported that the FBI assigned a SWAT team to provide protection for Alexis Wilkins, Patel's girlfriend who works as a country music singer. Additionally, Patel has reportedly utilized government aircraft for visits to Wilkins and personal recreational travel, including a golf excursion. The Director has defended these practices as standard procedure necessary to maintain access to secure communications equipment.

Legal experts have raised concerns about Patel's tendency to share information about active investigations on social media platforms. Notable instances include posts during the search for a suspect accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk and during what the FBI characterized as a planned Halloween terror plot in Michigan.