Trump's USA The President's team

Allegations against FBI Director – Called Alcoholic and Paranoid

FBI Director Kash Patel is accused of failing to perform his job and being a risk to US security, writes The Atlantic. Dozens of sources say that Patel has a problem with "excessive" drinking and that he has had to cancel meetings several times due to hangovers. The alcohol problems are said to be well-known, both at the agency and within Donald Trump's administration.

Colleagues say his leadership is characterized by paranoia, impulsive decisions and recurring absences. In April, Patel is said to have mistakenly believed that he had been fired after an IT glitch, and nine sources describe it as a "breakdown".

Kash Patel took office in 2025 and his work has been praised by the Trump administration. But according to White House sources, they are now actively looking for a new agency director.

The FBI denies the allegations and is threatening to sue The Atlantic.

– That's completely wrong. See you in court – bring your checkbook, they say in a comment.

Reports: Talks are underway to fire Kash Patel

There are talks in the White House about firing FBI Director Kash Patel after The Atlantic reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick's high-profile report. Fitzpatrick tells CNN according to The Independent.

– Senior administration officials are openly discussing who should be the next FBI director, she says.

Fitzpatrick has interviewed dozens of sources for her article. They paint a picture of Patel as paranoid, unstable and a threat to national security. In particular, they highlight his drinking habits – the FBI director is said to regularly get noticeably drunk and miss meetings due to hangovers.

Patel denies the reports and threatens to sue The Atlantic, but Fitzpatrick says she stands by her reporting.