Kash Patel was Trump's fallback pick for FBI after top choice flunked interview: report

Donald Trump’s didn’t want controversial pick for FBI director for the job — but his first pick flunked the interview, a report on Sunday claimed.

Axios reported that the president-elect had eyed Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey to lead the bureau.

But Bailey flew down to Mar-a-Lago to meet with Trump and his team — and he blew his chances of getting the job, Axios claimed.

Sources told the outlet that the candidate “looked the part,” but he“just didn’t have the presence in the room.”

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So Trump then went with his second choice, Kash Patel — a MAGA loyalist who has stated he wants to weaponize the FBI and will use it to go after Trump’s enemies, including members of the press.

He’s expected to face a tough confirmation grilling in the Senate.

Trump considers the pick to be a “personal message to the left that was cheering on Jack Smith,” Axios was told by its source.