Kash Patel Disgusts After X Detects Baffling Detail During Kirk Briefing
FBI Scrutiny Intensifies as Kash Patel Stays Silent at Charlie Kirk Briefing Amid Manhunt Riddled With Blunders: ‘Mickey Mouse Operation’
Kash Patel stood silent and expressionless as Utah authorities delivered a major update on the manhunt for the assassin who shot and killed conservative political influencer Charlie Kirk.
Utah’s Republican Governor Spencer Cox presented newly obtained surveillance footage of the shooting during Thursday’s press conference and urged the public to help track down the gunman.
The FBI director traveled to Utah for the briefing but declined to take questions or address the public.
Patel, a former MAGA podcaster who now oversees intelligence operations, has faced increasing scrutiny following the bureau’s response to the fatal shooting at Utah Valley University.
In the hours immediately following the attack, Patel mistakenly announced that a suspect had been taken into custody.
Critics have also faulted him for removing key leadership from the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office in the weeks prior to the shooting.
At the press conference, Patel remained quiet, drawing criticism online.
The Daily Mail reported that commenters mocked his lack of engagement, with one writing, “Don’t worry guys Kash Patel is clearly on the case.”
“I mean look at how he checks every last nook and cranny in the press conference room to see if the assassin might actually be there with them.”
Another questioned Patel’s silence: “He flew all the way there and didn’t say a word. I don’t get it! Something else is going on!”
Others also took aim at his refusal to address the public. “Zero questions and zero talking from Kash Patel. WTAF?” one comment read.
Behind closed doors, Patel reportedly expressed frustration.
He called the search effort a “Mickey Mouse operation” during a Thursday morning conference call, according to the New York Times.
He criticized FBI staff for not providing him with up-to-date information and claimed that local agents withheld a photo of the suspected killer from him for 12 hours.
The Daily Mail further noted that a White House source, granted anonymity by Reuters, described Patel’s performance as “unprofessional” and said it was “not acceptable to the White House or the American public.”
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, however, strongly rejected the anonymous claims. She said Patel maintained the support of President Trump.
“This is a despicable story from anonymous sources clearly trying to sow distrust amongst the President’s team during a time of utmost unity,” Leavitt told Reuters.
“Kash Patel is leading the manhunt to catch the killer of our friend, and everyone is supporting him and trying to be as helpful as possible during this effort, including the President of the United States,” she added.
Patel has also faced criticism over his decision to fire Mehtab Syed, the FBI’s special agent in charge of the Salt Lake City division, just one month before she would have overseen the current investigation.
Syed, a veteran FBI official with decades of national security experience, was removed from her post in August after only six months in the role.
Former colleagues described her as “absolutely the best” and praised her leadership.
“Truly a humble servant leader who treats co-workers like family,” said Christopher O’Leary, a former FBI agent and MSNBC contributor who worked with Syed.
He called her “a legendary case agent who was involved in some of the most significant national security cases of the last two decades.”
The reasons for Syed’s firing remain unclear, though sources told NBC she was told she “wasn’t a good fit for the office.” She was offered a lower-ranking position in Huntsville, Alabama, but instead chose retirement.
this press conference makes clear Kash Patel has demolished the FBI. the fact Kirk’s assassin still hasn’t been apprehended is a national embarrassment. it’s an insult to America’s purported legacy of law and order. MAGA’s podcaster grand poobahs are a pathetic joke.
— Peter Twinklage (@PeterTwinklage) September 12, 2025
this press conference makes clear Kash Patel has demolished the FBI. the fact Kirk’s assassin still hasn’t been apprehended is a national embarrassment. it’s an insult to America’s purported legacy of law and order. MAGA’s podcaster grand poobahs are a pathetic joke.
— Peter Twinklage (@PeterTwinklage) September 12, 2025
https://twitter.com/kleck32018/status/1966331547771961443?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1966331547771961443%7Ctwgr%5E9ff8c046ac16668ede1b2f57a5d3cc12075311bb%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.digifection.com%2F2025%2F09%2F12%2Fkash-patel-disgusts-after-x-detects-baffling-detail-during-kirk-briefing%2F
As the manhunt stretched into its second day, authorities acknowledged that they did not know whether the suspect remained in Utah.
“We have no idea,” said Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason when asked about the gunman’s location.
“We’re exploring leads for individuals that live close by. We literally have persons of interest, tips coming in on the tip line, that are spanning far and wide.”
The Department of Public Safety released additional images of the suspect, TTOA previously reported.
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