FBI Director Kash Patel came under fire from MAGA diehards Saturday for a photo op stunt with FBI agent trainees.
Patel, who is already experiencing friendly fire from the GOP base for his failures to live up to certain prosecution promises, over the weekend posted a controversial photo on social media. Specifically, he posted an image of him running with purported trainees.
"Staying ready for the mission with new FBI Agent Trainees - Class 25-04," Patel wrote in the caption.
But the running photo op didn't go over well with MAGA influencers and GOP onlookers.
One conservative user who has declared support for Marjorie Taylor Greene, @Js_Tweats, said, "Kash, while I do believe you intend to and are performing well at transforming day to day behavior of agents into a neutral and mission focused disposition, at the director level you are struggling with politics and optics around expectations you created."
"You are managing down well obviously. You are managing up and out poorly," they added. "I know you can improve, but you need to take the feedback to your internal meetings with Pam and Trump and lead upward because you guys are honestly losing the America First crew."
Self-identified MAGA user Quack Mama chimed in, "You’re no Pete Hegseth. Not fooling anyone."
A self-described "deporter supporter" wrote, "As the traitors walk free... You must be compromised."
A user who promotes white supremacy content, Mitchel Lewis, wrote, "Foreigner and a traitor."
An "America First conservative Republican" wrote, "I don’t care how fast you can run but I do care deeply how fast you can make an arrest."
"ARREST SOMEBODY ALREADY!" the user added.
Staying ready for the mission with new FBI Agent Trainees - Class 25-04 pic.twitter.com/nVg09PDK0t
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) November 15, 2025
