In Washington, an ex-insider warning has taken center stage: former Trump ally Kash Patel could be the next casualty as Trump-world pursues accountability. The warning comes in Michael Cohen’s Meidas+ essay, which argues Patel’s days in the administration may be numbered and cites alleged misuse of FBI resources as a sign of coming trouble.
Cohen writes that Patel’s alleged misuses—such as transporting a girlfriend on a government jet and providing her with an FBI security detail—are part of a pattern that could trigger a purge in Trump’s orbit. He frames the situation with this warning: “If you’ve ever worked for Donald Trump—as I did for over a decade—you learn to recognize the early warning signs that someone’s about to get fed to the political wood chipper.” He continues with a vivid image of the West Wing: staffers moving faster, aides avoiding eye contact, and printers piling up resumes “just in case.”
That imagery, Cohen says, signals the moment when “the Boss is on the hunt for a fall guy,” and Patel appears to be wearing a neon sign reading “FUTURE FORMER EMPLOYEE.” Cohen’s Meidas+ essay paints Patel as a plausible target in a broader pattern of retribution and internal competition within Trump World.
Patel, who was one of Trump’s fiercest allies during the 2024 campaign, is described as having stirred controversy in recent months—from clashes with lawmakers to disseminating information during FBI inquiries. Cohen’s piece asks pointedly: “So will Trump actually fire Kash Patel?” and answers with caution: in Trump World, the threat is often the point, the paranoia the currency.
The piece also notes that Patel’s potential fate is being weighed in the White House. Cohen mentions that Andrew Bailey (the former Missouri attorney general) and Dan Bongino are among those considered as possible replacements, with the Trump orbit exhibiting notable volatility as investigations and headlines swirl.
Patel’s situation is set against a chorus of public and private reactions. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Trump “laughed” off the report, suggesting Patel was doing a great job, while Abigail Jackson echoed similar praise for the administration. Cohen points to these responses as part of the theater that often accompanies personnel turmoil in Trump World.
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