Donald Trump’s decision to nominate Kash Patel as FBI director has ignited fierce backlash, with critics pointing to Patel’s ties to QAnon and promotion of conspiracy theories. David Corn, D.C. bureau chief for Mother Jones and MSNBC analyst, outlined Patel’s controversial history in a scathing report on Sunday.
According to Corn, Patel’s extremism “goes far beyond assailing a supposed Deep State.” He described Patel as a “MAGA combatant” who has vocally supported Trump’s baseless claims of a stolen 2020 election and portrayed January 6 rioters as “patriots” and “unfairly persecuted political prisoners.” Corn also highlighted Patel’s role in spreading the debunked “ItalyGate” conspiracy theory, which falsely alleged that Italian military satellites were used to switch votes from Trump to Biden during the 2020 election.
“Patel is also a fervent promoter of conspiracy theories,” Corn wrote. “Moreover, Patel has been supportive of the most loony conspiracy theory in MAGA land: QAnon.” QAnon, Corn explained, is a conspiracy theory that alleges the existence of a global cabal of Satanic, cannibalistic elitists running a child sex trafficking ring while conspiring against Trump.
“It is pure nuttery,” Corn wrote, emphasizing its dangerous consequences. “Worse than that, QAnon has sparked multiple acts of violence.” Corn pointed to Patel’s amplification of QAnon messages during his tenure on the board of Trump’s social media company, Truth Social. In early 2022, Patel promoted an account called @Q, which shared QAnon content, further solidifying his connection to the fringe ideology.
The nomination of Patel, who has also falsely claimed that the Trump-Russia investigation was a hoax orchestrated by the FBI and the so-called Deep State, has raised alarms among critics who fear his appointment could undermine the agency’s independence and credibility. The FBI is currently overseeing one of its largest and most successful criminal investigations into the January 6 Capitol riot, including prosecutions for assaults on police officers.
Patel’s embrace of QAnon and other baseless theories has drawn bipartisan concern and heightened scrutiny over Trump’s effort to install loyalists in key positions. As the Senate prepares for Patel’s potential confirmation, his controversial record and ties to extremist ideologies are likely to dominate what promises to be a contentious debate.