Patel defends Olympics trip after footage shows him partying with US hockey team

Published February 22, 2026 9:58pm ET



FBI Director Kash Patel is defending his trip to the Winter Olympics this weekend after he was seen partying with the U.S. men’s hockey team following their win over Canada on Sunday.

Patel flew to Milan for the last few days of the Olympics on Thursday, reportedly taking the bureau’s jet. A top FBI official insisted at the time that the excursion was “not a personal trip” and included official business, such as meetings with Italian police officials and U.S. Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta.

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