FBI Director Kash Patel Celebrates With Men's Hockey Team After Gold Medal Win

Patel's rowdy locker room antics drew criticism as the FBI navigated major probes back home.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 12:04pm

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FBI Director Kash Patel was caught on video chugging beer and spraying it over members of the American men's hockey team following their gold medal win at the Winter Olympics in Milan. The footage has sparked criticism as the FBI was dealing with multiple urgent issues back in the U.S., including a security threat at former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence.

Why it matters

Patel's participation in the raucous locker room celebration has raised questions about his priorities and leadership of the FBI, especially as the agency was handling high-profile cases that demanded his full attention.

The details

In the video, Patel is seen banging on a table before being given a gold medal, then joining the team in jumping up and down and singing along to a patriotic song. This came as the FBI was dealing with a security threat at Mar-a-Lago, concerns about Americans in Mexico facing cartel threats, and the ongoing search for a missing woman named Nancy Guthrie.

  • The incident occurred on Sunday, February 23, 2026, following the American men's hockey team's gold medal win at the Winter Olympics in Milan.
  • The video was posted online by a ProPublica reporter shortly after the celebration.

The players

Kash Patel

The current Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, whose Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida faced a security threat during the incident.

Merrick Garland

The former U.S. Attorney General, whose spokeswoman criticized Patel's actions.

Nancy Guthrie

A woman who was reported missing and whose case the FBI was investigating.

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What they’re saying

“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?!”

— Xochitl Hinojosa, Spokeswoman for former Attorney General Merrick Garland

What’s next

The FBI is expected to provide an update on the security threat at Mar-a-Lago and the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie in the coming days.

The takeaway

Patel's behavior during the Olympic celebration has raised concerns about his ability to effectively lead the FBI and prioritize the agency's most pressing investigations, especially those involving national security and public safety.