New York: Indian-origin, Kash Patel, showcases his cultural roots tied to India as he took oath as the ninth director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Saturday, placing his hand on the Bhagavad Gita. The oath ceremony was administered by the US Attorney General Pam Bondi in the Indian Treaty Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB) on the White House campus in Washington.
On his first official day as FBI Director, Kash Patel paid his respects at the Wall of Honor, honoring the brave members of the FBI who made sacrifices for the American people.
#WATCH | Washington | Kash Patel takes oath on the Bhagavad Gita, as the 9th Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Source: US Network Pool via Reuters pic.twitter.com/c5Jr0ul1Jm
— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2025
US President Donald Trump praised Patel’s appointment. “One of the reasons I love Kash and wanted to put him in is because of the respect the agents had for him,” Trump said.
“He will go down as the best ever at that position. Turned out he was very easy to get approved. He is a tough and strong guy. He has his opinions. Trey Gowdy came out with an incredible statement and said that Kash is an incredible person and people don’t realise it. When he said that, there was no doubt left. It was a big statement made by someone who is respected and is on the moderate side,” he added.
Patel’s nomination was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday in a 51-49 vote. Two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, joined Democrats in opposing his appointment.
Patel, a former counterterrorism prosecutor and chief of staff to the defence secretary, replaces Christopher Wray, who was appointed by Trump in 2017 but later clashed with him before resigning.
FBI directors typically serve for 10 years. Patel’s connection with Trump has led to questions as to whether he will uphold that tradition. Democrats had argued that his appointment could harm the agency’s credibility. “The FBI shouldn’t serve as Donald Trump’s army,” said Senator Adam Schiff, a Democrat.
Patel gets Bollywood style welcome
Congratulations to the new Director of the FBI, @Kash_Patel! pic.twitter.com/JsANV0s9cP
— Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) February 20, 2025
To give him a grand Bollywood style welcome, the assistant to the President and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino shared a video clip of a Ranveer Singh song from the movie ‘Bajirao Mastani’. The clip was shared on X as it showed Ranveer’s face replaced with Patel’s in the song ‘Malhari’.
