Steve Bannon publicly tore into FBI Director Kash Patel on Thursday for his handling of the manhunt following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The criticism came after Patel and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) held a widely criticized press conference announcing the suspect in Kirk’s death.
The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson of Utah, had been turned in to authorities by his own father, a retired police officer.
Despite this crucial lead, Bannon slammed Patel and Cox for turning the press conference into what he called a “group hug,” failing to provide critical details about Robinson and his motives.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, we watched the nine-minute press conference yesterday, and it appears the kid had said something to the family, the family had the goods to confront him and the family turned him in,” Bannon said. “I’m not seeing the great law enforcement work. They all came together, I got that, but this was not through law enforcement work.”
Bannon continued his critique, questioning Patel’s presence at the Utah briefing, per the Daily Mail.
“I don’t know why Kash flew out there, thousands of miles, to give us, hey, we’re working partnerships and our great partnership in Utah,” he said.
The conservative strategist argued that Patel and other officials failed to provide transparency on the investigation.
“This is why people get so frustrated. And no, governor, no, no, we’re not gonna have a group hug and sit down with Democrats. They are targeting conservatives. They are targeting leaders. Charlie Kirk’s not replaceable,” Bannon said.
The criticism has sparked a broader debate within conservative circles over Patel’s ability to lead the FBI.
Following the shooting, Patel initially claimed on X that a suspect was in custody.
Minutes later, Utah authorities clarified that the individual had only been questioned, and the killer remained at large.
Patel subsequently announced that the suspect was released after questioning and that the investigation was ongoing, a move that drew public ire.
Prominent conservative activist Christopher Rufo echoed Bannon’s criticism, calling for Patel to step aside from his leadership role at the FBI.
“I’m grateful that Utah authorities have captured the suspect in the Charlie Kirk assassination, and think it is time for Republicans to assess whether Kash Patel is the right man to run the FBI,” Rufo wrote on X.
Patel reportedly criticized his own agents during the manhunt, reportedly calling the operation a “Mickey Mouse” effort during a profanity-laced video call. The remarks further fueled concerns over his operational expertise and leadership capabilities.
With conservatives questioning the handling of the investigation and the FBI under Patel facing growing scrutiny, the fallout from Kirk’s assassination continues to dominate national political discussions.
