His confirmation by the Senate on Friday, with a narrow 51-49 vote, paved the way for him to take charge of the premier federal law enforcement agency—a role he described as the “greatest honour” of his life.
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#WATCH | Washington | Kash Patel takes oath on the Bhagavad Gita, as the 9th Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Source: US Network Pool via Reuters pic.twitter.com/c5Jr0ul1Jm
— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2025
“I am living the American dream. And to anyone who believes that the American dream is dead—just look at me,” Patel said in his address following the swearing-in ceremony at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C.
Succeeding Christopher Wray as FBI chief, Patel emphasised the significance of a first-generation Indian-American leading one of the most powerful law enforcement bodies in the world.
“You are looking at a first-generation Indian who is about to lead the law enforcement agency of the greatest nation on earth. That kind of opportunity is unique to America,” he remarked.
Pledging to uphold accountability and restore public confidence in the FBI, Patel expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump for his support. “My mission as Director is clear: let good cops be cops—and rebuild trust in the FBI,” he stated after his confirmation.
Following the ceremony, the White House acknowledged Patel’s appointment in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “It’s time we restore integrity and justice at the FBI. Make America Safe Again,” the post read featuring a photograph of Patel alongside President Trump.
Speaking about Patel’s appointment, Trump praised his leadership qualities and the respect he commands within the agency. “One of the reasons I chose Kash is because of the high regard agents have for him,” Trump said. “I believe he will go down as the best ever in this role.”
The President also noted the ease of Patel’s confirmation, describing him as “tough and strong” with firm convictions.
