On Sunday, MSNBC opinion writer Hayes Brown criticized President-elect Trump’s selection of Kash Patel as head of the FBI, suggesting that it would result in a combination of Alex Jones and J. Edgar Hoover.
Brown articulated his concerns during a conversation with journalist Sam Stein on MSNBC, stating, “Kash Patel as FBI director would be like if you crossed Alex Jones with J. Edgar Hoover, in terms of just how much he would want to ignore precedent and the constraints that have been put onto the FBI over the years.”
The appointment of Kash Patel as FBI director ignites debates about loyalty and the future of the agency’s professionalism
Reactions to Patel’s appointment have varied among lawmakers and former officials, though Republican figures have largely supported his selection. Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe remarked, “It’s a terrible development for the men and women of the FBI and also for the nation that depends on a highly functioning professional independent Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Patel, referring to him as “a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and ‘America First’ fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the American People.” He emphasized Patel’s involvement in addressing what he termed the “Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax,” commending him as an advocate for truth, accountability, and the Constitution.
Patel is known for advocating mass firings, particularly within the FBI and the Justice Department, and has supported revoking security clearances for individuals who investigated Trump during his 2016 campaign. Brown noted, “Kash Patel displays the one thing Donald Trump cares about, which is loyalty. He has been through, with Trump, by his side, thick and thin, since before he was even a part [of the administration].”
The Hill has reached out for comments from the Trump transition team and from Jones’s Infowars.
