Kashyap Patel has been appointed as the new director of the FBI — he is known as a “loyal supporter” of Trump and a conservative radical.

The U.S. Senate confirmed him with a 51–49 vote. Democrats opposed the appointment, arguing that Patel would use his position to seek revenge against Trump’s political opponents. Republicans defended Trump’s nominee, claiming Patel would make the FBI more transparent.

The Washington Post previously reported that in 2024, Patel received a $25,000 fee from a Russian film company promoting pro-Russian and anti-Western views. Now, he will be responsible for countering Russian espionage operations in the United States.