Summary: A senior FBI official told colleagues that, in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 10 shooting that killed Charlie Kirk, Director Kash Patel prioritized scripting social media posts over coordinating the bureau's investigative response, The New York Times reports. Sources — drawn from 45 current and former FBI employees — described a conference call where Patel and then-Deputy Director Dan Bongino mapped out tweets while field agents sought operational guidance. Patel later posted on X that a suspect was in custody, a claim he subsequently amended; 22-year-old Tyler Robinson surrendered the following day.
‘Surreal’ Conference Call: Senior FBI Official Says Kash Patel Prioritized Social Media After Charlie Kirk Shooting
In the hours following the Sept. 10 shooting that killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a senior FBI official says then-Director Kash Patel concentrated on coordinating social media messaging rather than the bureau's investigative response, according to a report in The New York Times.
The Times published recollections from 45 current and former FBI employees who served during President Donald Trump's second term. Those interviews highlight episodes that staff say caused alarm after Patel's appointment and paint a portrait of internal friction over priorities and conduct.
Account From A Senior FBI Executive
An anonymous senior bureau official described a conference call on the day of the shooting in which Patel allegedly berated the special agent in charge in Salt Lake City and then shifted to scripting posts for X (formerly Twitter) with then-Deputy Director Dan Bongino.
'When there's a critical incident we typically have a conference call with executives and many field offices on the line. Someone with situational awareness usually leads, explains what happened, what we know and what we need. On this call, it was Kash berating the special agent in charge in Salt Lake — he was very emotional. Then it got surreal. He and [then-Deputy Director Dan] Bongino began mapping out their Twitter approach: "I'll tweet this; Salt Lake, you tweet that; Dan, you come in with this; then I'll follow up with this." They were scripting social posts instead of discussing resources, investigative steps, or the operational picture.'
The source said early information in such incidents is often inaccurate and requires careful vetting. Colleagues on the call reportedly pushed back, arguing that investigators needed time to verify facts and pursue leads rather than rush unvetted public statements.
Subsequent Posts And Developments
Hours after the shooting, Patel posted on X that a shooter was in custody; he later said the person had been released. The next day, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson turned himself in to authorities. The Times notes that much of its reporting is based on anonymous or on-the-record interviews with current and former staff and that not every detail has been independently verified.
Context
The episode is presented amid a broader series of accounts from bureau employees describing concerns about Patel's leadership style during the period. The report has prompted public and internal scrutiny over how the FBI balances operational priorities with public messaging during high-profile incidents.
Help us improve.
