FBI Director Kash Patel was on site in Milan for the USA men’s hockey team’s gold-medal win over Canada on Sunday, Feb. 22, and also celebrated with the team in the locker room after the overtime victory.
Patel posted photos of himself with members of the team to his account on X on Feb. 22. One photo features a group of players, including overtime hero Jack Hughes and the Tkachuk brothers, sporting their medals around their necks. Another shows the players celebrating in the background as Patel took a photo with USA coach Mike Sullivan.
‘Unity, Sacrifice, Attitude- what it takes to be the best in the world,’ Patel wrote in the post. ‘These men live and breathe it. Now Team USA are gold medal champions, legends standing on the shoulders of giants. Thank you for representing the greatest country on earth, in the greatest game ever created.’
Patel was also shown drinking what appeared to be alcohol with the team in a video posted to social media before a player put a gold medal around his neck. Patel, who was jumping up and down while celebrating with the team, shared another message on social media directed at the ‘concerned media’ regarding his appearance.
Kash Patel at Olympics
Patel was spotted celebrating the win not long after he announced on social media that the FBI was helping investigate a fatal shooting at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
During the third period of the hockey game, Patel’s official government account on X posted this statement regarding the Mar-A-Lago incident: ‘FBI is dedicating all necessary resources in the investigation of this morning’s incident at President Trump’s Mar-A-Lago – where an armed individual was shot and killed after unlawfully entering the perimeter. We will continue working closely with (the Secret Service) as well our state and federal partners and will provide updates as we are able.’
This latest incident comes after Patel faced criticism for his handling of, and communications surrounding, sensitive cases like the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Patel came under fire for keeping his dinner reservation at a hard-to-get-into New York restaurant on the night of Kirk’s killing and making improper public statements about the case.
Patel has also drawn scrutiny for his reported use of government jets for personal travel.
Patel’s trip to Italy is not personal and reports have ‘purposefully misled people to think Kash was flying to Italy to hang out at the Olympics,’ according to Ben Williamson, assistant director for public affairs at the FBI. Williamson said on X on Feb. 19 the trip would include a meeting with Italian law enforcement and security officials as well as a U.S. consulate briefing on Olympic security.
The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY.
Patel, an avid hockey fan, has appeared at NHL games in the past since taking over as FBI Director.