Kash Patel 'wasn't Trump's first choice' to head FBI, but his selection was ‘personal message to…’

Amidst the ongoing buzz about Trump's FBI pick Kash Patel, it is being said that the anti-'Deep State' crusader wasn't the President-elect's first choice.

Updated on: Dec 02, 2024 6:24 PM IST

Share via

Copy link

Amidst the ongoing buzz about Donald Trump's FBI pick Kash Patel, it is being said that the anti-'Deep State' crusader wasn't the President-elect's first choice.

Kash Patel's selection was a “personal message to the left that was cheering on Jack Smith”, the special counsel who was bringing charges against Trump, as per the transition official. (AFP / Rebecca Noble)

According to a new report, Attorney General Andrew Bailey of Missouri was a front-runner for the top position.

Why didn't Trump pick Andrew Bailey?

Bailey was not nominated for the job because his Mar-a-Lago interview did not go well and that he “looked the part,” but he “just didn't have the presence in the room,” Axios reported, citing a source within the Trump transition team.

Patel's selection was a “personal message to the left that was cheering on Jack Smith”, the special counsel who was bringing charges against Trump, as per the transition official.

It is well known that when it comes to appointments to the Trump Cabinet, rapport with the president-elect plays a very crucial role. Patel has been a devoted and longtime Trump supporter.

Also Read: Is Kash Patel married? Unravelling personal life of anti-'deep state' crusader and Trump's FBI pick

Kash Patel, ardent supporter & loyalist of Trump

Patel has been a devoted Trump supporter for years, seeing similar ground in their distrust of government monitoring and the “deep state,” an insulting phrase that the Republican uses to describe government bureaucracy.

He was among the few Trump supporters who accompanied him to the courthouse during his recent criminal trial in New York, where he called the GOP leader a victim of an “unconstitutional circus” while speaking to the reporters.

His appointment partly breaks with the current trend of FBI directors trying to maintain a distance from presidents.

Patel's vocal opposition to the FBI's probe into any link between Russia and Trump's 2016 presidential campaign highlighted his commitment. He has also contributed to a number of the legal inquiries involving Trump.

He testified in 2022 before the Washington grand jury probing Trump’s stockpiling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

He also provided testimony at a court hearing in Colorado concerning Trump's attempts to reverse the 2020 presidential election results that resulted on Capitol riots on January 6.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shweta Kukreti
Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.