FBI Director Faces Backlash After Olympic Celebration Videos

FBI Director Kash Patel came under public scrutiny after videos circulated online showing him celebrating with the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team following its gold medal victory at the Winter Olympics in Italy.

The clips, which spread widely on social media, showed Patel in the locker room drinking and celebrating alongside players, as well as participating in a phone call in which President Donald Trump invited the team to the White House.

Patel defended his presence, saying he had been invited by the team to join the post-game celebration after the overtime win against Canada.

The footage nonetheless prompted criticism and questions about the optics of the appearance, given the timing of several major developments involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

At the time, the bureau was involved in an investigation into a security breach at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, an ongoing missing-person case and broader security concerns affecting Americans abroad.

FBI officials said Patel’s trip to Italy had been planned months in advance and included meetings with Italian law enforcement and briefings related to Olympic security operations.

Officials also said any personal portion of the travel would be reimbursed, as scrutiny over the visit and its timing continued