Trump’s FBI Nominee Kash Patel After Wray Resignation: ‘I’ll Be Ready To Go On Day One’

The man President-elect Donald Trump picked to lead the FBI in his second term gave a bullish outlook in response to current Director Christopher Wray announcing his plan to retire.

“We look forward to a very smooth transition at the FBI and I’ll be ready to go on Day One,” Kash Patel told reporters on Wednesday during a visit to Capitol Hill.

Pres-elect Trump’s pick for FBI Dir, Kash Patel, reacts to Dir Wray’s resignation: “We look forward to a very smooth transition at the FBI and I’ll be ready to go on day 1” pic.twitter.com/m1ZqW5q30n

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Wray revealed earlier in the day that he intended to continue serving as FBI director until the end of the Biden administration in January and then step down.

“[T]his is the best way to avoid dragging the Bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work,” Wray said.

Trump has criticized Wray, whom he picked to head the FBI during his first term, over issues such as crime and the raid of his Mar-a-Lago estate amid a documents inquiry.

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In a post to Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump celebrated Wray’s decision not to stick around for the remainder of his 10-year term atop the bureau.

Trump marked what he called a “great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice.”

He also said Patel is the “most qualified Nominee to lead the FBI in the Agency’s History” and is “committed to helping ensure that Law, Order, and Justice” return to the U.S.

Patel, a former House staffer who served in high-level national security positions within Trump’s first administration, has been meeting with GOP senators about his FBI bid.

This week, Sen. Tom Tillis (R-NC) shared photos of his meeting with Patel, called Trump’s pick “the real deal,” and said he looked forward to supporting his nomination.

CNN reported Patel said senators have been “wonderful” and he aims to earn their “trust and confidence” as well as “restoring law and order and integrity to the FBI.”

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) recently told radio host Hugh Hewitt that he expects Patel will be confirmed by the Senate, which will be controlled by the GOP next year.