Tension is boiling inside the Trump administration as Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel clash over a series of high-profile missteps.
Sources close to the administration told the Washington Examiner that the feud has intensified in recent months, raising eyebrows among Trumpworld insiders.
The disputes stem from issues ranging from the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files to the chaotic law enforcement response to the Charlie Kirk assassination.
Patel, in particular, has attracted criticism for a string of unusual actions, including taking an FBI jet to Pennsylvania to watch his girlfriend perform at a wrestling match and prematurely announcing FBI operations meant to foil an alleged terror plot on Halloween.
One senior Trump official said Bondi has reason to be frustrated.
“These repeated, just bonehead screwups from the FBI director reflect poorly on her and the entire department,” the official explained. “So I’m not surprised that she wants him gone.”
Speculation has swirled that Bondi may be maneuvering to replace Patel. In August, she appointed former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey as co-deputy director of the FBI.
Bailey now shares responsibilities with co-deputy Dan Bongino, a close Patel ally who has clashed with Bondi over Epstein-related matters. Some sources suggest Bailey’s appointment positions him to take over if Patel is removed.
Despite the rumors, White House officials insist there is no immediate plan to replace the FBI director, per the Washington Examiner.
A spokeswoman said, “President Trump has full faith and confidence in both Attorney General Bondi and FBI Director Patel. The Attorney General is doing a tremendous job leading the DOJ and making America Safe Again, and Director Patel is restoring integrity to the FBI. The entire Trump Administration will continue working closely together to implement the President’s agenda, despite nonsense gossip amplified by the media.”
Even so, the friction is palpable behind the scenes. An FBI source said Bondi’s annoyance stems from how the department handles its messaging.
“We do something, arresting 50 people in a nightclub, for example, and then DOJ puts out the press release, runs the entire messaging operation,” the source explained. “I can see why somebody like Kash would step in and want to give credit to the agents who did the work. That has ruffled some feathers.”
Another insider added that Bondi struggles to rebound when the FBI publicly touts its own accomplishments fully.
“Every time the FBI announces its work, it kind of takes away an opportunity for her to rebound fully,” the source said. “She’s aware of it, and she’s navigating it the best she can.”
While the feud is drawing attention, both agencies continue their work. DOJ sources emphasized the importance of ensuring that internal disputes do not compromise sensitive operations.
“AG Bondi has bigger things to worry about, like running the DOJ and defending the administration’s agenda in court, which she’s doing with a remarkably high success rate,” one source said. “The FBI is part of DOJ, and the most important thing above all is to ensure that no disclosure of information imperils a conviction.”
