On board Air Force One, President Donald Trump publicly pushed back on a report that he was weighing the ouster of FBI Director Kash Patel. Trump said Patel is doing a great job and described the report as completely made up, remarks that were reported as he addressed reporters during travel aboard the aircraft.
The MS NOW outlet had reported on potential personnel changes at the FBI, including discussions about Patel’s conduct and communications and naming Andrew Bailey as a possible replacement in the event of leadership changes. The denial from the White House came in this broader context of a leadership conversation that has attracted attention from multiple outlets.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the MS NOW report as completely made up and downplayed any ouster discussions, emphasizing there had been no change in Patel’s status and urging reporters to disregard the rumors.
Coverage of the incident highlighted how leadership questions at the FBI can ripple through the administration amid internal debates about keeping or replacing top officials. The timing ties to reporting circulating around November 25, 2025, with Trump’s remarks publicly documented as taking place onboard Air Force One as he spoke with reporters.
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