FBI Director Kash Patel is facing criticism from both parties after videos showed him celebrating inside the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team locker room following their gold medal victory in Milan.
The clips, which spread quickly online, show Patel chugging beer, spraying it on players, and singing along as the team marked its first Olympic gold medal in more than 40 years.
Fox News host Jessica Tarlov posted on X, “Where’s DOGE when you need it?”
The post came as a video of Patel celebrating with the team spread online.
It seemed to raise questions about government spending and priorities at a time when the FBI is dealing with several major issues.
Inside The Locker Room Celebration
The celebration took place after Team USA defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
It marked the program’s first gold medal since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice.” Video shared online shows Patel banging on a table, receiving a gold medal placed around his neck, and joining players in singing “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” by the late Toby Keith.
In another clip, Patel appears to facilitate a speakerphone call from President Donald Trump, who congratulated the team.
“Unbelievable. You were all unbelievable. That team is pretty good you played,” a voice that appears to be Trump’s says in the video, which was verified by NBC News.
According to NBC News, the president also invited the players to attend the State of the Union address.
Democrats Raise Oversight Concerns
According to The Hill, critics questioned the timing of Patel’s appearance in the locker room.
Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) wrote on X, “The grift & corruption is unreal. Your taxpayer dollars funding the FBI Director’s Italian vacation.”
Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL) added, “3 million pages of evidence of a massive child sex trafficking ring and this is what the FBI director is doing right now,” referencing the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Xochitl Hinojosa, a former Justice Department spokesperson under Attorney General Merrick Garland, also criticized Patel’s presence overseas.
“There was a threat at the president’s residence at MAL, Americans in Mexico are facing major threats by cartel members, Nancy Guthrie is still missing, and our FBI Director thinks he’s a frat bro?!” she wrote on X.
Former FBI special agent Michael Feinberg weighed in on Bluesky, writing, “One of the first things we were taught at Quantico was that there is never a moment in which you are not representing the Bureau.”
Patel and the FBI Respond
Patel defended himself in a statement posted to X.
“For the very concerned media – yes, I love America and was extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys- Greatest country on earth and greatest sport on earth,” he wrote.
The FBI has said Patel’s trip to Italy was not personal. A spokesperson stated the travel was planned months in advance and included meetings with regional partners and security teams.
The bureau also noted that the FBI plays a major role in Olympic security.
Officials said any personal expenses would be reimbursed at the equivalent cost of a commercial flight, as required when directors use official aircraft for security reasons.
Renewed Scrutiny Over Jet Travel
According to The Hill, the episode also revived scrutiny over Patel’s prior travel.
House Judiciary Democrats previously opened a probe into his use of an FBI jet, accusing him of having “commandeered U.S. government aircraft for personal joyrides” and using the plane for “date night.”
FBI directors are required to use official aircraft for security purposes but must reimburse the government accordingly.
Patel had previously criticized his predecessor, Christopher Wray, over similar travel.
In 2023, Patel said, “I’m just saying Chris Wray doesn’t need a government-funded G5 jet to go to vacations. Maybe we ground that plane. $15,000 every time it takes off. Just a thought.”
Conservative Media Pushes Back
According to The Hill, supporters on the right dismissed the backlash.
Fox News host Will Cain posted, “No matter what the Left is trying to turn this into…every proud American is smiling through every second of this video.”
Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt wrote that he did not think “the lefties … quite understand the impact of this video on the standing of” Patel.
Partisan Divide Deepens
The debate has quickly turned into a broader partisan clash.
Democrats argue that the optics are troubling at a time when the FBI is handling serious matters, including a Secret Service shooting involving an armed man at Mar-a-Lago and other active investigations.
Republicans and conservative commentators describe the moment as patriotic and harmless, emphasizing that Patel was invited by the team and was in Italy for official meetings tied to security operations.
As the video continues to circulate, the central question remains the same one posed online: “Where’s DOGE when you need it?”
For critics, the footage raises concerns about priorities and perception. For supporters, it shows an FBI director celebrating a historic American victory.
The political fallout is unlikely to fade quickly, especially as Congress continues to scrutinize travel and spending tied to senior administration officials.
IMAGE CREDIT: ”Kash Patel” by Gage Skidmore, via Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Image adjusted for layout.