FBI Director Kash Patel faced bipartisan ridicule Tuesday after being photographed wearing customized Nike shoes, sparking criticism over what detractors called childish footwear.
ProPublica reporter William Turton first revealed the shoes, which feature the number 9 referencing Patel as the ninth FBI director, his personal "K$H" logo promoting his clothing brand, and the Punisher skull symbol.
Critics seized on the irony of Patel's fixation with the Punisher skull, noting the comic book character's creator called it an "outlaw" concept and found it "stupid and ironic" that pro-law enforcement groups embraced it. Conservative journalist Rod Dreher called the shoes "so freaking childish," describing Patel as "a grown-ass FBI director carrying on like a high school boy." Conservative journalist Emma-Jo Morris noted Patel is 46 years old.
Author Jennifer Erin Valent expressed dismay at Patel treating the FBI "like a guy going back to his high school reunion to show all the cool kids how rich he is now."
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