FBI Director Kash Patel has sparked a wave of online reaction after a clip of him celebrating in a men’s hockey locker room following the team’s Olympic gold went viral.
The 2026 Winter Olympics wrapped up yesterday (February 22), with the United States finishing the Games with 33 medals overall.
Among Team USA’s standout results was the men’s hockey team securing gold. After the final, Patel was seen joining the players inside their locker room in Milan as they celebrated the win.
Footage shared across social media appeared shortly after reports of other major incidents, including an armed man being shot and killed while attempting to enter one of US President Donald Trump’s resorts, and US tourists reportedly being left stranded in Mexico following the killing of Mexico’s most-wanted drug lord. Against that backdrop, the video of Patel’s locker-room celebration drew particular attention—and plenty of criticism.
In the clip, Patel is wearing a white USA top, singing along with the team, appearing to chug a beer, and then spraying it around the room as players cheer.
Comments quickly poured in across platforms.
“There was a threat at the president’s residence at MAL, Americans in Mexico are facing major threats by cartel members, Nancy Guthrie is still missing, and our FBI Director thinks he’s a frat bro?!”
“There’s still three million Epstein files to be released to the American public, and this is what your FBI Director is doing instead.”
On Reddit, one user described it as “f**king shameful,” and another replied: “Can you imagine what it must be like for Epstein’s victims and their families to see this? It just boggles the mind. It’s too sickening to even properly comprehend.”
Others also questioned whether Patel traveled to Milan “on a government jet to watch Olympic hockey on the taxpayers’ dime.”
— Jay (@Jayy_Hardyy252) February 23, 2026
Another X user pushed back on that point, writing: “The FBI Director is required to take his ‘government jet’ any time he travels, for security reasons. So there is nothing illegal or unethical about an FBI Director traveling somewhere in his jet.”
Even so, the clarification didn’t appear to slow the backlash, and Patel later addressed the controversy directly.
“For the very concerned media – yes, I love America and was extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys- Greatest country on earth and greatest sport on earth.”
For the very concerned media – yes, I love America and was extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys- Greatest country on earth and greatest sport on earth.…
— Kash Patel (@Kash_Patel) February 23, 2026
It followed an earlier message in which he praised the team and their approach, writing: “Unity, Sacrifice, Attitude- what it takes to be the best in the world. These men live and breathe it. Now Team USA are gold medal champions, legends standing on the shoulders of giants. Thank you for representing the greatest country on earth, in the greatest game ever created. congrats boys @usahockey.”
The FBI has been contacted for further comment.