Kash Patel faces criticism over ‘From Russia, with Love’ post

FBI Director Kash Patel faced criticism after mocking a news report that wrongly said he had travelled to Russia, posting “From Russia, with Love…” on social media as Russia continued its attacks on Ukraine.

WASHINGTON: FBI Director Kash Patel faced criticism after mocking a news report that wrongly said he had travelled to Russia, posting “From Russia, with Love…” on social media as Russia continued its attacks on Ukraine.

https://x.com/Kash_Patel/status/2110486280375054471?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2110486280375054471%7Ctwgr%5E85f0cb839d176b4ce14b81be661a8a3277bda755%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fjang.com.pk%2Fnews%2F1624654

MS NOW reported on Wednesday that Patel had arrived in Russia for a two-day meeting in Moscow and St Petersburg, citing two unnamed sources. The FBI disputed the report, saying Patel was attending a law enforcement appreciation event at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Video from a local ABC affiliate also showed him at the event.

MS NOW later issued an on-air correction, acknowledging that Patel remained in the United States.

Patel’s response drew criticism from social media users who said the joke was insensitive amid Russia’s war against Ukraine. Spanish-American chef José Andrés, whose humanitarian organisation has provided aid to Ukrainians, wrote: “You should be so ashamed of yourself!”

https://x.com/covie_93/status/2110538581210976697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2110538581210976697%7Ctwgr%5E85f0cb839d176b4ce14b81be661a8a3277bda755%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fjang.com.pk%2Fnews%2F1624654

https://x.com/chefjoseandres/status/2110534069037707343?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2110534069037707343%7Ctwgr%5E85f0cb839d176b4ce14b81be661a8a3277bda755%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fjang.com.pk%2Fnews%2F1624654

Some critics also called on Patel to resign, while supporters defended his post as a pointed response to the network’s reporting.

The episode revived questions about a previously reported $25,000 payment Patel received from a company owned by filmmaker Igor Lopatonok, whose work has promoted pro-Kremlin narratives, according to media reports. The payment’s existence does not by itself establish wrongdoing by Patel.