Kash Patel criticized for his actions and posts during Charlie Kirk shooting investigation

FBI Director Kash Patel’s activities during the investigation of Charlie Kirk’s killing raise questions about his decision-making, current and former officials said.

FBI Director Kash Patel’s activities during the investigation of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination raise questions about his decision-making during a crisis, four former FBI officials and two administration officials told NBC News.

From the shooting Wednesday to a suspect’s arrest Friday, Patel took steps that gave pause to some federal and local officials and raised questions about his judgment, the sources said. Several spoke on the condition of anonymity, some because they were not authorized to speak publicly and others citing fear of retaliation from the Trump administration.

Those actions ranged from where Patel was on the evening of the assassination to what a former official described as his “grandstanding” about his own role after the arrest.

Kash Patel speaks at a news conference on Sept. 12, 2025, in Orem, Utah.Lindsey Wasson / AP“He has heard concerns about how this looks,” an administration official said in a statement. “There are a lot of shaking heads.”

In an interview on "Fox & Friends" on Monday, Patel defended his handling of the investigation, including social media posts he made the day of the shooting.