The FBI and White House unleashed a barrage of criticism against MS NOW on Wednesday after the network reported that FBI Director Kash Patel had landed in Russia — while he was apparently attending a law enforcement event in Virginia.
The controversy erupted after MS NOW anchor Peter Alexander presented a breaking news report claiming Patel had arrived in Russia for a meeting.
“MS NOW has learned that Patel has landed in Russia for a meeting scheduled to take place there,” Alexander said, citing two people familiar with the matter.
But the FBI quickly pushed back, pointing to Patel’s appearance at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
“MS Now’s ‘sources’ are ‘familiar’ with NOTHING!” the FBI’s rapid response account declared, sharing screenshots of the network’s report alongside images of Patel’s appearance at the university.
Patel also fired back, accusing the network of spreading falsehoods about his agency.
“MS NOW just reported I had ‘landed in Russia’ for meetings with the FSB,” Patel wrote on X. “The same outlet constantly tells lies about this FBI and law enforcement’s historic achievements in safeguarding the American people.”
Patel then listed a series of FBI accomplishments before adding: “They owe an apology to this FBI, the men and women of law enforcement, and to the American people.”
FBI Assistant Director of Public Affairs Ben Williamson expressed his own disbelief at the report.
“I have had many strange experiences in life,” Williamson wrote in an X post. “But in tier 1, I had to be seeing a clip of MS Now reporting breaking news that Kash Patel has ‘just landed in Russia’ - (sic) right as I’m receiving pics of Kash Patel doing a law enforcement appreciation event today in Lynchburg, Virginia.”
The White House then joined the pile-on.
“MSDNC and their band of third-rate hacks do nothing but lie, lie, lie,” the White House’s official rapid response account wrote. “They're a total disgrace.”
MS NOW just reported I had “landed in Russia” for meetings with the FSB. The same outlet constantly tells lies about this FBI and law enforcement’s historic achievements in safeguarding the American people.The results speak for themselves: • 53,969+ violent crime arrests (up 90%) • Nearly 20% decrease in the nationwide murder rate • 31,016+ violent criminals and gang members arrested (up 30%) • 10 of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted fugitives captured (2.5× the prior four years) • 11,081+ child victims located and identified (up 21%) • 3,258+ kilos of fentanyl seized (up 8%) — enough to kill 247+ million AmericansThis is no accident. It is due to the relentless work of this FBI and all of our state, local, and tribal partners.They owe an apology to this FBI, the men and women of law enforcement, and to the American people.-DKP🇺🇸
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) October 14, 2026