WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 23 — Kash Patel, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, joined members of the U.S. men’s hockey team in a celebratory locker-room gathering in Milan after their dramatic gold medal victory at the Winter Olympics, sparking both praise and criticism.
The United States secured a 2–1 overtime win against Canada, marking the country’s first Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980. Videos circulating on social media showed Patel celebrating with players, drinking beer, spraying beverages, and briefly wearing a gold medal placed around his neck by a team member.
Patel later addressed the moment in a post on X, describing the experience as an honor and expressing pride in celebrating with Team USA.
“For the very concerned media — yes, I love America and was extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment,” Patel wrote.
His presence during the celebration has drawn mixed reactions, with some praising the gesture as a show of national unity and support, while others questioned whether it reflected appropriate priorities for the head of a major federal law enforcement agency.
Patel was in Italy as part of official engagements related to Olympic security, including meetings with Italian law enforcement and U.S. security partners to coordinate safety operations during the games.
He has served as FBI director since February 2025, following confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Prior to his appointment, Patel held several roles in national security and legal affairs, including positions as a public defender, federal prosecutor, adviser to the House Intelligence Committee, and senior official within the National Security Council and the Department of Defense.
As FBI director, Patel oversees federal criminal investigations, counterterrorism efforts, and national security operations across the United States.
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