Yes, yes it was. FBI Director Kash Patel joined the U.S. men's hockey team in the locker room to celebrate Team USA's gold medal win.
The viral video shows him chugging a beer, spraying the remnants, jumping up and down and also chanting while wearing a player's gold medal 🎥 Watch the viral video
This clip has gotten a lot of criticism, especially at such a frenzied time for the FBI. For example, a man was shot and killed by law enforcement for breaching the perimeter of President Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort early on Sunday morning. Patel posted about the incident seemingly while at the game.
Democrats online bashed Patel for acting like a "frat bro" while the FBI is dealing with a number of serious and high-profile cases, such as the Epstein investigation files, the search for Nancy Guthrie and various national security matters.
Patel's defense: Patel is a huge hockey fan and plays hockey recreationally. He posted a message "for the very concerned media," explaining that players invited him to their locker room celebrations.
White House communication director Steven Cheung also pushed back on reports that Patel used government aircraft to travel to Milan, arguing that Patel was in Italy for work.
"Kash was also in Italy meeting with regional partners and security teams," Cheung wrote. A spokesperson also said attendance at the Games was planned because "the FBI also has a major role in Olympic security," per The Hill's Dominick Mastrangelo and Rebecca Beitsch.
And Fox News host Will Cain argued that "no matter what the Left is trying to turn this into…every proud American is smiling through every second of this video. AWESOME!"
Tidbit: Trump called the team and joked around with them. He invited them to the White House, to which Patel responded, "I'm f---ing on it."
Trump joked that he would also have to invite the women's hockey team "or I'd be impeached." 🎥 Watch Trump speak to the players in the locker room
Read more on the controversy: 'Patel sparks outrage partying with Team USA as MAGA cheers him on'
