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‘I read the headline to the President and he laughed,’ a White House spokesperson said.
Brendan RasciusIn New YorkTuesday 25 November 2025 20:41 GMTComments
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The White House quickly refuted a report that President Donald Trump is considering removing FBI Director Kash Patel from his post amid recent controversies — with a spokesperson describing it as “fake news.”
MS NOW reported on Tuesday that the president and his aides have become frustrated by the unfavorable news coverage Patel has generated, citing three unnamed sources familiar with the matter.
In recent weeks, the nation’s top law enforcement official has come under scrutiny for his use of government aircraft, the security detail assigned to his girlfriend and conflicts with other administration members.
Sources described Patel as “being on thin ice,” with Co-Deputy FBI Director Andrew Bailey being eyed as his replacement, the outlet reported.
But, minutes after the story published, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took to social media to rebut it.
open image in galleryPresident Donald Trump is weighing firing FBI Director Kash Patel, according to a new report, which the White House characterized as “fake news.” (AP)
open image in galleryTrump and Patel posed for a photo in front of a framed copy of the Declaration of Independence following a report that claimed the president was on the verge of firing the FBI director. (Karoline Leavitt)“This story is completely made up,” Leavitt wrote on X.
She said that, when the news broke, she happened to be in the middle of an Oval Office meeting with the president and Patel.
“I read the headline to the President and he laughed. He said: ‘What? That’s totally false. Come on Kash, let’s take a picture to show them you’re doing a great job!’” Leavitt wrote, attaching a photo of the pair smiling and giving a thumbs up.
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