Kash Patel, the FBI director, was filmed inside the US men’s hockey locker room celebrating after Team USA won the gold medal, and he posted to X praising the team with the words "Unity, Sacrifice, Attitude," according to his post.
Videos that circulated on social media and were shared by ProPublica showed kash patel chugging beer and being draped with a gold medal by a player during the locker room revelry, and Dylan Larkin’s Instagram Live captured some of the footage.
The director also posted photographs from the arena and a video of the medal ceremony on X, and he wrote messages thanking the team for representing "the greatest country on earth," according to his posts.
The trip to Italy drew scrutiny because news reports said Patel traveled on the FBI’s Gulfstream jet, and an MS NOW account cited government estimates that the aircraft costs at least $5,000 per flight hour, making the trip likely about $75,000.
FBI Assistant Director for Public Affairs Ben Williamson defended the itinerary and told reporters "No, it's not a personal trip," saying the director had planned meetings with Italian law enforcement, embassy officials and FBI staff while in Milan, as Williamson wrote.
An FBI official also told reporters that as director Patel must travel on the FBI jet to remain available for secure communications and rapid return, and that he is required to reimburse the government for any personal travel, up to the cost of a commercial flight.
Reactions And Broader Context
News outlets and former agency officials circulated the locker room footage and questioned whether the public duties Patel cited matched his visible activities, and MS NOW reported eight former FBI and Justice Department officials shared the video within their circles.
Some former agents compared the director’s use of FBI resources to past controversies over aircraft use, and a podcaster and other commentators publicly challenged the FBI’s explanations, according to published reports.
Reporters noted the trip came while the FBI was dealing with multiple fast-moving matters at home, including the bureau’s response to an intrusion and shooting at Mar‑a‑Lago and the continued search for 84‑year‑old Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today host Savannah Guthrie, as covered in news accounts.
The coverage also referenced Patel’s prior travel on agency aircraft for sporting events and personal trips, and outlets said concerns have prompted requests from lawmakers and reports seeking records about reimbursements and flight use.
