FBI Director Kash Patel abruptly canceled a planned trip to Chicago on Friday after being called to the White House, according to multiple people familiar with the matter, as questions continue surrounding his travel and conduct while leading the bureau.
The trip would have included a visit to the FBI’s Chicago field office and attendance at a country music festival where Patel’s girlfriend, singer Alexis Wilkins, was scheduled to perform.
According to people familiar with the change in plans, Patel canceled the flight while preparing to depart and instead traveled to the White House.
The exact reason for the meeting remains disputed.
Sources cited by MS NOW said some senior administration officials had become frustrated with Patel over a series of recent controversies, including questions surrounding his travel and public comments.
One concern, according to people familiar with internal discussions, was Patel’s decision to leave Washington during renewed tensions with Iran and amid reported threats against President Donald Trump.
Other officials reportedly pointed to recent criticism over Patel’s travel on FBI aircraft and his social media activity.
Earlier Friday, Patel responded to reporting about his travel with a post on X that included the statement: “my jet ski is gold plated… dumbass.”
The post came after reports scrutinizing Patel’s use of FBI aircraft for official and personal travel.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has also requested information regarding Patel’s use of the FBI jet and the purchase of armored BMW vehicles for his security detail.
Congressional Democrats separately questioned whether Patel sought special accommodations during official travel, including reports involving a jet ski excursion and helicopter tour.
The FBI has denied those allegations and has said Patel has complied with all applicable federal travel rules.
The White House rejected suggestions that Patel had been summoned because of frustration within the administration.
White House spokesperson Steven Cheung praised Patel’s leadership, saying violent crime has fallen under President Trump and Patel’s leadership and describing the FBI director as an important member of the administration’s law enforcement team.
A separate White House official also disputed the characterization that Patel had been called in because of internal concerns, saying he attended unrelated meetings.
An FBI spokesperson declined to comment.
According to multiple current and former law enforcement officials, Patel’s planned Chicago trip had already generated criticism within the bureau.
Sources told MS NOW that Patel’s staff scheduled an FBI field office visit to coincide with his planned attendance at Wilkins’ concert during the White City Smokeout festival.
Some agents reportedly questioned whether the office visit had been added to justify use of the FBI aircraft for what they viewed as a largely personal trip.
Patel has previously faced scrutiny over his travel, including a trip to the Winter Olympics in Milan and another visit to Penn State, where Wilkins performed the national anthem.
His office has maintained that FBI directors are required to use government aircraft for travel outside the Washington area and has said those trips included official meetings.
According to people familiar with White House discussions, President Trump and several senior advisers have grown increasingly frustrated by recurring headlines involving Patel’s travel and public appearances, believing they have distracted from the administration’s broader agenda.
