FBI Director Kash Patel celebrated with the US men’s hockey team after winning Olympic gold. Videos of his celebration in the dressing room went viral, but many were furious with his behavior. Now, the FBI Director has responded with a savage reply.
On Sunday, Team USA won the gold medal in the men’s hockey tournament at the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, beating Canada in overtime. But footage from the locker room went viral, and many people were unhappy with FBI Director Kash Patel, who was present.
In clips shared on social media, Patel is seen wearing a white USA shirt, singing with players, drinking beer, and spraying drinks around the locker room. Some even put a gold medal around his neck. Not everyone thought it was fun.
One critic wrote on X: “There was a threat at the president’s residence … and our FBI Director thinks he’s a frat bro?!” — referencing other serious news events happening at the same time.
Kash Patel’s celebration with Team USA sparks controversy
Others were furious, saying “this is f**king shameful,” questioning whether it was right for Patel to be there at all. Some even brought up unresolved files and cases important to the public, suggesting that would be Patel’s priority.
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- Greatest country on earth and greatest sport on earth.…
— Kash Patel (@Kash_Patel) February 23, 2026
Moreover were also comments about travel costs, with people wondering if Patel used government resources to get to Italy — and if that was appropriate. Some replied that, by law, FBI leaders are required to fly in secure aircraft.
As the clip was shared on Reddit, one post, racking up thousands of likes and comments, read, “FBI Director Kash Patel’s taxpayer-funded work trip to Italy includes a well-documented raucous locker room celebration with Team USA at the Winter Olympics.”
One user responded, asking, “Doesn’t he have evidence to destroy?”
FBI Director Kash Patel responds
It didn’t take long before Kash Patel decided to respond to the criticisms. On X, the FBI Director wrote, “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 — Greatest country on earth and greatest sport on earth,” Patel wrote, adding praise to the hockey team. “Unity, Sacrifice, Attitude — what it takes to be the best in the world…“
Patel faced controversy earlier during the Olympic Games as well. Reports claimed he flew to Milan, Italy, on a jet owned by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Some critics said the trip looked personal. But that claim was later denied by FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson, who spoke out on X to explain the situation. Williamson made it clear that Kash Patel’s travel was not for fun.
“No, it’s not a personal trip. Director Patel is on a trip that was planned months ago,” he said, adding that the visit included meetings with Italian police and officials. Moreover, Williamson claimed Patel was also overseeing the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s “major role in Olympic security.”
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