President-elect Donald Trump has announced a series of high-profile appointments, including the nomination of Kash Patel as the next director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Charles Kushner as ambassador to France.
The picks signal Trump’s intention to reshape key government institutions and prioritise loyalty within his administration.
Patel, a staunch Trump ally, would replace FBI Director Christopher Wray, who was appointed by Trump in 2017 for a 10-year term but fell out of favor after the FBI’s involvement in a federal probe into Trump’s handling of classified documents.
For Patel to assume the position, Wray would need to resign or be removed—though Trump has not publicly called for Wray’s ouster.
“Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and ‘America First’ fighter,” Trump said on Truth Social, adding that Patel’s appointment would bring accountability to the FBI.
Patel, the son of Indian immigrants and a former defense lawyer, has been critical of the FBI, advocating for sweeping reforms to the agency. In his 2023 memoir Government Gangsters, he called for firing senior FBI officials and ending what he described as “government tyranny.”
A former chief of staff at the Pentagon and senior counsel on the House Intelligence Committee, Patel has long been a vocal critic of the so-called “deep state.”
Patel is also a prolific Trump supporter in other arenas, including authoring pro-Trump children’s books that portray figures like Hillary Clinton and former FBI Director James Comey as villains. He currently serves on the board of Trump Media and Technology Group, which owns Trump’s social media platform Truth Social.
In addition to Patel, Trump has selected Chad Chronister, the sheriff of Hillsborough County, Florida, as the next administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Chronister, who has over three decades of law enforcement experience, is known for his tough stance on drug-related crimes.
Trump praised Chronister’s expertise, saying, “As DEA Administrator, Chad will work with our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to secure the border, stop the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs, and save lives.” Chronister described the nomination as “the honor of a lifetime.”
Trump has also tapped Charles Kushner, a real estate developer and father of Jared Kushner, for the role of ambassador to France.
This marks the first time Trump has formally nominated a relative for an administration position since his re-election.
While Charles Kushner’s selection is seen as a reward for family loyalty, critics may view the nomination as controversial, given his 2005 conviction for tax evasion and witness tampering. Trump pardoned Kushner in 2020 during his first term.
All three appointments—Patel for FBI Director, Chronister for DEA Administrator, and Kushner for Ambassador to France—require confirmation by the Senate. With Republicans holding a narrow majority, the confirmations are expected to face partisan scrutiny.
The appointments underscore Trump’s focus on consolidating control over key institutions and advancing his “America First” agenda as he prepares to take office. Whether these nominees can navigate the Senate confirmation process will be an early test of Trump’s post-election political clout.
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