Indian-American Kash Patel was officially sworn in as the ninth Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Friday, taking the oath on the Bhagavad Gita.
Patel’s girlfriend and family stood beside him during the ceremony, while other family members were seated in the front row. The oath was administered at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. Patel succeeds Christopher Wray, following his confirmation by the U.S. Senate, as reported by Fox News.
After taking the oath, Patel described the moment as a realization of the American dream. “I am living the American dream, and anyone who thinks the American dream is dead, look right here. You’re talking to a first-generation Indian who is about to lead the law enforcement agency of the greatest nation on earth. That can’t happen anywhere else,” Patel stated.
He also pledged to ensure accountability within the FBI. “I promise that there will be accountability within the FBI and outside of it,” he affirmed.
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed strong support for Patel, describing him as “tough” and “strong.” Trump said, “One of the reasons I love Kash and wanted to put him in is because of the respect the agents have for him. He will go down as the best ever at that position. Turned out he was very easy to get approved. He is a tough and strong guy. He has his opinions. Trey Gowdy came out with an incredible statement, saying that Kash is an incredible person, and people don’t realize it. When he said that, there was no doubt left. It was a big statement from someone who is respected and on the moderate side.”
The White House also welcomed Patel’s confirmation, calling it a vital step in advancing President Trump’s agenda to restore integrity and uphold the rule of law. In a post on X, the White House stated, “@FBIDirectorKash Patel’s confirmation as FBI Director is a crucial step in executing President Trump’s agenda to restore integrity and uphold the rule of law. The FBI will serve the American people and refocus on its core mission: enforcing justice fairly and without bias.”
Following his confirmation, Patel expressed his gratitude to President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi for their support. He reiterated his commitment to rebuilding the FBI as a transparent, accountable, and justice-driven agency.
Patel’s nomination faced opposition from Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine. However, he secured support from the rest of the Republican Party, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who had previously opposed other Trump nominees. According to NBC News, the confirmation passed with a narrow 51-49 vote, with all Senate Democrats voting against Patel.
– ANI
