Trump Praises Kash Patel Following FBI Director Wray’s Resignation
President-elect Donald Trump reacted strongly to FBI Director Christopher Wray's decision to step down, an announcement Wray made on Wednesday, just weeks ahead of Inauguration Day.
Wray's resignation follows Trump’s recent statement naming Kash Patel, a former federal prosecutor and national security expert, as his nominee for the FBI director position. Patel previously held roles at the National Security Council during Trump’s first term.
Calling Wray’s departure a “great day” for America, Trump vowed to bring integrity back to the FBI and the Department of Justice, both of which he claimed were politically weaponized under the Biden-Harris administration. Trump pointed to the DOJ’s two cases against him as evidence of this alleged misuse of power.
“The resignation of Christopher Wray is a great day for America as it will end the weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice,” Trump told Fox News Digital. “I just don’t know what happened to him.”
Trump further promised, “My administration will now restore the rule of law for all Americans.”
He also criticized Wray’s leadership, accusing the FBI of illegal activities. “Under the leadership of Christopher Wray, the FBI illegally raided my home, without cause, worked diligently on illegally impeaching and indicting me, and has done everything else to interfere with the success and future of America,” Trump said. “They have used their vast powers to threaten and destroy many innocent Americans, some of which will never be able to recover from what has been done to them.”
Trump then turned his attention to Patel, offering resounding support for his nomination.
“Kash Patel is the most qualified nominee to lead the FBI in the Agency’s History, and is committed to helping ensure that Law, Order, and Justice will be brought back to our Country again, and soon,” Trump declared. “As everyone knows, I have great respect for the rank-and-file of the FBI, and they have great respect for me. They want to see these changes every bit as much as I do but, more importantly, the American People are demanding a strong, but fair, system of justice.”
He concluded, “We want our FBI back, and that will now happen. I look forward to Kash Patel’s confirmation, so that the process of Making the FBI Great Again can begin.”
Patel’s extensive background underscores his qualifications. In 2017, he served as senior counsel on counterterrorism for the House Select Committee on Intelligence. Later, in 2019, Patel was appointed senior director of the Counterterrorism Directorate at the U.S. National Security Council. Previously, he had worked closely with then-Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) on investigations debunking claims of Trump-Russian collusion during the 2016 election.
In February 2019, Patel joined Trump’s National Security Council as a staffer and was promoted in July to oversee the newly created Counterterrorism Directorate. Notably, Patel led a secret mission to Damascus in 2020, negotiating the release of Americans detained by the Syrian government.
Patel also served as principal deputy to Acting Director Richard Grenell at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Additionally, he accompanied Trump during a state visit to India, gaining recognition as one of the two Indian-Americans in the delegation.
FBI Director Wray announced his decision to resign during a town hall on Wednesday.
“After weeks of careful thought, I’ve decided the right thing for the bureau is for me to serve until the end of the current administration in January and then step down,” Wray explained. “My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day.”
He added, “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.”
Appointed by Trump in 2017 after the dismissal of James Comey, Wray has served seven years of his 10-year term.