FBI Director Kash Patel is facing backlash this week after a podcast appearance alongside his girlfriend aired just days after a campus shooting suspect from Brown University remains at large. Patel, who was appointed by President Donald Trump earlier this year, appeared on a podcast hosted by Katie Miller, the wife of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, to talk about his relationship with country singer Alexis Wilkins.
The timing of the episode has caused controversy, as the interview went public while the FBI continues its manhunt for the person responsible for the Brown University shooting that occurred Saturday afternoon. Critics from both sides of the political spectrum are questioning why the nation’s top law enforcement officer would take part in what some are calling a “softball” interview while a major investigation is still underway.
Miller posted a preview of the podcast on social media Monday evening, labeling it “The love story,” and teasing questions about Wilkins’ background and the couple’s long-distance relationship. Miller also joked about their future engagement, which added fuel to the growing criticism.
While the podcast recording reportedly took place before the shooting occurred, the public release of the episode on Tuesday, two days after the violent incident, did little to calm frustration. Miller quickly clarified on social media that the interview had been taped prior to Sunday, but many online users were already reacting to the optics of the situation.
The FBI has come under increased scrutiny since the Brown University shooting. Earlier in the investigation, Director Patel allegedly made premature comments about the bureau locating a person of interest connected to the case. That individual was later released without charges. Local law enforcement in Providence confirmed that while the FBI helped identify and locate the individual, the person was not the suspect.
Following that misstep, President Trump posted on Truth Social that the suspect was in custody, a claim that the White House later walked back. Still, the administration reaffirmed its support for Patel, with a spokesperson stating, “The President has full faith and confidence in his entire law enforcement team, including FBI Director Kash Patel, to bring the perpetrator of this atrocious crime to justice.”
That hasn’t stopped the criticism from spreading, particularly across social media. Journalists, commentators, and even some political insiders have questioned the decision to release the light-hearted podcast clip during an active manhunt. Some compared it to a PR disaster, while others pointed to what they described as poor judgment by both Patel and Miller.
One podcast host, Jack Mac from Barstool, commented that the timing looked bad, even if the episode was recorded earlier. “The optics of a podcast with your GF coming out while the FBI is failing at a manhunt are just awful,” he wrote on X.
To be fair, Katie Miller added this note at the beginning of her podcast with FBI Director Kash Patel & his girlfriend Alexis Wilkins, but thus far, that hasn’t helped the negative ratio it’s receiving (see bottom of screenshots)… pic.twitter.com/d7dJ5vLG8k
— Jimmy Simmons (@ArticulateTHGHT) December 17, 2025
Should Kash Patel face consequences for his podcast appearance during the FBI manhunt?
Other online voices took aim at the broader image of the administration. One journalist said it gave the impression of a “content creator administration,” while Democratic strategist Sawyer Hackett asked how the situation would be viewed if a Democrat-appointed FBI director had done the same during a crisis.
So far, Patel has not publicly responded to the criticism. The FBI continues its search for the shooting suspect, and local police say they are working closely with federal authorities.
This incident adds to a growing list of public concerns surrounding Patel’s leadership. In recent months, questions have been raised over his use of a private jet and FBI resources to visit Wilkins, his girlfriend, though nothing has been confirmed by federal investigators. Critics from both political sides have called the bureau’s direction under Patel “unclear” or “rudderless,” especially as several high-profile investigations remain unresolved.
In this episode, I sit down with FBI Director @Kash_Patel and @AlexisWilkins to discuss leading the FBI, navigating personal attacks, their relationship, music, and life behind the scenes.
0:00 – Introduction
1:26 – The Backstory of Alexis Wilkins
2:45 – Reflecting on Nearly One… pic.twitter.com/3pPI7mW5Kl— The Katie Miller Podcast (@katiemillerpod) December 16, 2025
The White House has not announced any changes in leadership at this time. The full podcast episode featuring Patel and Wilkins is now live, though the conversation around its release appears to be far from over.
