Who is Kash Patel, Trump loyalist who could be next CIA chief?

Republican Donald Trump edged past his Democratic challenger Kamala Harris and is set to return as US President for a second term. Trump’s stunning performance was due to his strong showings in the swing states and easily crossed the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency.
When he assumes his role, the 78-year-old President-elect is expected to select high-ranking administration officials for his cabinet. Among potential candidates for the high-ranking posts is Kashyap ‘Kash’ Patel, an Indian-origin Trump loyalist, whose name is being floated as a choice for CIA Director.
A former Republican House staffer, who served in various high-ranking staff roles in the defence and intelligence communities during Trump’s first term, Patel has frequently appeared on the campaign trail to rally support for the Republican candidate. He served as the former Chief of Staff to Acting Secretary of Defence Christopher Miller.
Born in New York on February 25, 1980, to Indian immigrant parents from East Africa, Patel has roots in Vadodara, Gujarat. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Richmond and earned a law degree, along with a Certificate in International Law from University College London.
Patel initially faced challenges securing a role at top law firms, leading him to start his career as a public defender. He spent nearly nine years in Miami courts, handling complex cases including murder, narco-trafficking, and financial crimes.
Patel transitioned to the federal government by joining the Department of Justice as a terrorism prosecutor, leading investigations and prosecutions of individuals associated with groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS. He also served as the Justice Department’s Liaison Officer to Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), collaborating on global counterterrorism operations.
Later, he was appointed Principal Deputy to the Acting Director of National Intelligence, overseeing the 17 intelligence community agencies and delivering the President’s Daily Briefing.
A key point in Patel’s career came when he was hired by Rep. Devin Nunes, then chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, to lead the committee’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Patel played a significant role in drafting the “Nunes Memo,” a four-page report critical of the Justice Department’s methods in obtaining a surveillance warrant for a former Trump campaign volunteer. The memo garnered significant attention and impressed Trump.
Patel’s work on the Nunes Memo led to prominent roles within the Trump administration. In February 2019, he joined the National Security Council (NSC) as a staffer and later became Senior Director of the Counterterrorism Directorate.
In this role, he oversaw the execution of several of Trump’s top priorities, including operations against ISIS and Al-Qaeda leaders and the safe repatriation of American hostages held by the Syrian government.
In February 2020, Patel moved to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) as Principal Deputy to Acting Director Richard Grenell. He later became Chief of Staff to Acting Defence Secretary Christopher Miller, gaining significant influence over the Department of Defense’s operations and transition processes.
Kash Patel has been a polarising figure due to his alignment with Trump’s views on national security and his challenges to the intelligence community. Near the end of Trump’s first term, there was consideration of Patel for the role of deputy director of the CIA or FBI, but this was met with opposition from CIA Director Gina Haspel and Attorney General Bill Barr, who argued Patel lacked the necessary experience.
Since leaving government, Patel has remained active in promoting Trump’s agenda and pursued business and media endeavours. He has authored a memoir, Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy, as well as children’s fiction that promotes Trump.
Patel also serves on the board of directors for Trump Media and Technology Group, which owns the Truth Social media platform.
With Trump winning a second term, Patel is widely speculated to be appointed CIA Director, bolstered by his loyalty to Trump and advocacy for reforms within government, including reducing the FBI’s authority, overhauling the Justice Department, and taking measures against government leakers and journalists.