On Saturday, Trump announced Patel – a loyalist and former defence department chief of staff during his first term – as his nominee to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), an agency that both men have often criticised.
The president-elect hailed him as “a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and ‘America First’ fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending justice, and protecting the American people”.
But critics have questioned his qualifications, and have voiced their anxieties that the FBI could become a tool for exacting retribution after Patel vowed to “come after” certain Trump opponents.
For Patel to take the job, the current FBI director Christopher Wray – also appointed by Trump during his first stint – would need to resign or be sacked.
Patel’s appointment will require a vote of confirmation in the US Senate. Trump is due to return to the White House on 20 January 2025.
