FBI Director Kash Patel Caught Celebrating with Team USA at Olympics

Patel's taxpayer-funded work trip to Italy included a raucous locker room celebration with U.S. hockey players.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 10:24pm

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FBI Director Kash Patel, 45, was captured celebrating with the U.S. men's hockey team in an Instagram Live video following their gold medal win against Team Canada at the Winter Olympics in Italy. Patel then posted his own photos and videos with the athletes, drawing criticism that he was using taxpayer funds for a personal Olympic vacation. The FBI has defended Patel's trip as being for official business, but a former FBI agent has accused the agency's public affairs director of lying about the purpose of the visit.

Why it matters

Patel's Olympic celebration has raised questions about the appropriate use of government resources and whether the FBI director was prioritizing personal interests over official duties. As a high-ranking law enforcement official, Patel's actions are under intense scrutiny, particularly given past criticism of his use of government planes for personal travel.

The details

Patel was first captured celebrating with U.S. men's hockey player Dylan Larkin in an Instagram Live video following their triumphant match against Team Canada. Patel then posted his own photos hanging out with the athletes and shared a video of the medal ceremony. In his social media posts, Patel praised the team's 'Unity, Sacrifice, Attitude' and called them 'legends standing on the shoulders of giants.' However, social media users complained that Patel was funding his Olympic vacation with taxpayer money.

  • Patel was first captured celebrating with the U.S. men's hockey team on February 19, 2026.
  • Patel posted his own photos and videos with the athletes on February 20, 2026.

The players

Kash Patel

The 45-year-old FBI Director who was caught celebrating with the U.S. men's hockey team at the Winter Olympics in Italy.

Dylan Larkin

A U.S. men's hockey player who was seen celebrating with Patel in an Instagram Live video.

Ben Williamson

The FBI Assistant Director for Public Affairs who has defended Patel's trip to Italy, claiming it was for official business and not a personal vacation.

Kyle Seraphin

A 'recovering FBI agent' who once advised Patel and has accused Williamson of lying about the purpose of Patel's visit to the Olympics.

Alexis Wilkins

Patel's 27-year-old girlfriend who is suing a podcaster for suggesting her relationship with Patel is part of a Mossad 'honeypot.'

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Kash Patel, FBI Director

“Ben Williamson, FBI AD of Public Affairs, is a flat out liar. @FBIDirectorKash went to Italy to hang out at the Olympics... and he accidentally got caught on Dylan Larkin's livestream from Team USA's locker room. His 'meetings with law enforcements' were just a cover.”

— Kyle Seraphin, Recovering FBI agent

What’s next

The FBI and the Justice Department are expected to face continued scrutiny over Patel's use of government resources for the Olympic trip, and whether he prioritized personal interests over official duties.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability around the use of taxpayer-funded resources by high-ranking government officials, particularly those in sensitive law enforcement roles. It also raises questions about the appropriate boundaries between personal and professional activities for public servants.