The White House on Tuesday dismissed reports suggesting that U.S. President Donald Trump was considering removing FBI Director Kash Patel from his position. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt firmly rejected the claims, calling the story “completely made up” and sharing a photo of Donald Trump and Kash Patel in the Oval Office to counter the rumour.
Karoline Leavitt stated that she was present in the Oval Office when the report began circulating online. According to her, President Trump was meeting his law enforcement team including FBI Director Kash Patel at the time. She said she read the headline aloud, prompting Trump to laugh at the claim.
In her post on X, Leavitt wrote, “This story is completely made up. I was in the Oval Office, where President Trump was meeting his law enforcement team, including FBI Director Kash Patel.” She added that the President immediately dismissed the speculation, reinforcing his support for Kash Patel.
Karoline Leavitt further claimed that Trump turned to Patel and said, “That’s totally false. Come on, Kash, let’s take a picture to show them you’re doing a great job.” The White House then released a photograph of Trump smiling beside Patel, presenting a united front amid online speculation.
The rumour had prompted questions about Patel’s future in the administration, but the White House’s clarification appears to close the matter. Officials emphasized that the President maintains confidence in Patel’s leadership of the FBI.
By sharing the photo and issuing a prompt response, the administration sought to prevent misinformation from spreading further. The White House reiterated that the report had no factual basis and that Kash Patel continues to serve in his role with the President’s full support.
The clarification underscores the administration’s broader effort to address misinformation quickly and directly, especially when it concerns senior officials and national security agencies.
