Two weekends ago, the Atlantic dropped a fascinating article about FBI Director Kash Patel and his 14-15 months as the nation’s top law enforcement official. The Atlantic’s sources were mostly current and former FBI agents and bureaucrats, all of whom are deeply concerned about Patel’s paranoia, unprofessionalism and, most of all, his binge-drinking. Dude is regularly getting blackout drunk and passing out in random places. He’s probably also drinking at work. Incidentally, since that Atlantic piece was published, Patel sued the magazine and lied his ass off in a presser. But the author of the piece, Sarah Fitzpatrick, is standing by her story. She even said that after the first story was published, she’s been “inundated” with “sources corroborating her reporting.”

Well, just hours before the shooting – or whatever we’re calling it – at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night, Politico reported that Patel is very likely to be the next person axed from the administration. A “top White House official” told Politico that “It’s only a matter of time” before Patel is sh-tcanned and Trump is “fed up with the level of distraction.” Trump loathes people who drink to excess, btw. Trump is a teetotaler and he has a real baseline disgust with adults who drink a lot and/or can’t handle their liquor. As for what went down at the WHCD, Patel was there… and he wasn’t doing his job.

Kash Patel is once again under scrutiny—this time after shots rang out steps away from President Donald Trump and top administration officials. The embattled FBI was seen appearing to linger aimlessly in a video captured after a man exchanged gunfire with Secret Service at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday.

In the footage captured by ABC News Journalist Linsey Davis, Patel is standing agape outside the Washington Hilton.

“Kash Patel standing around outside after the shooting like a random attendee and not the literal FBI Director is actually crazy,” Eric Spracklen, a rightwing political commentator, shared with his almost 300,000 followers in a post on X.

Other videos show Patel, who was a guest of the Daily Mail, crouched to the ground inside the venue, looking seemingly dumbfounded.

“There is a shooting and…The head of the FBI is just hanging out?” another X user wrote in a post that has racked up 850,000 views as of publication.

Patel was seen being ushered out of the Hilton through the front lobby at 10:02 p.m., about 90 minutes after shots were fired, The Washington Post reported. His girlfriend, who was also invited by the Mail, was hiding in a room holding hands with another man but later left with Patel, the New York Times reported.

The director joined Trump and other administration officials for a press conference at the White House later on Saturday, where he said the bureau he presides over is examining shell casings from the scene and interviewing witnesses from the dinner. The 46-year-old also urged anyone with information to contact the FBI.

Patel also lavished the president —who is reportedly considering firing him—with praise, telling Trump during the briefing he “inspire[s]” law enforcement.

“You give them the resources that they need, and you know, they know that you have their back, and that is a changing dynamic in this country,” Patel said to Trump, who patted him on the back.

[From The Daily Beast]

While the Secret Service is “in charge” of a crime scene of this kind, the FBI is always deployed as well, and they’re investigating alongside the SS. It sounds like Patel was just hanging out though, before he caught an Uber to the White House for that deranged press conference after the shooting.

FBI Director Kash Patel seen on his phone, just hanging around outside the venue like a random WHCD attendee trying to figure out how to get an Uber after the incident. pic.twitter.com/28eIcwGUdl

— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) April 26, 2026

Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Avalon Red, Cover Images.