Trump Weighing Ouster of FBI Director Kash Patel Amid “Resource Abuse” Scandal

President Donald Trump is reportedly considering the removal of FBI Director Kash Patel, less than a year into his tenure, following a series of accumulating scandals that have alienated key allies and drawn intense scrutiny. According to a new report from MSNBC, citing three sources familiar with the matter, the President has grown increasingly frustrated with the steady stream of negative headlines surrounding his handpicked director.
The primary driver of the potential ouster appears to be allegations of gross misuse of bureau resources. Patel is under fire for reportedly deploying elite FBI SWAT teams to provide personal security for his girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins, at various public events, including a performance at an NRA convention. Additionally, reports indicate Patel has frequently utilized the FBI’s $60 million Gulfstream jet for personal travel to attend Wilkins’ concerts and other non-official engagements. While Patel’s office claims these measures were necessary due to “credible death threats,” the optics of diverting tactical assets for personal reasons have reportedly angered the President.
Beyond the “resource abuse” scandal, Patel is facing significant political headwinds regarding his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Critics, including some within the MAGA movement, have accused the Director of “meddling” with the release of sensitive documents, alleging that Republican names were redacted or protected. This perception of a “cover-up” has fractured Patel’s support base among the President’s most loyal supporters.
Internal turmoil at the bureau has also reached a boiling point. Since taking office in February, Patel has overseen a purge of career officials and allegedly created a “culture of fear” that has paralyzed standard operations. The report suggests that the White House is already vetting potential replacements, with Andrew Bailey, a top FBI official, emerging as a leading candidate to stabilize the agency.
The situation remains fluid, but sources indicate that Trump—who famously demands loyalty and “winning” headlines—sees Patel’s ongoing controversies as a distraction from his administration’s broader agenda.