FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche have publicly criticized the New York Times for an article that alleged mutual distrust between them. The report, published on Monday, suggested that both officials harbored a negative opinion of Patel, with assertions that he prioritized social media over his responsibilities. The article, titled ‘Part Enabler, Part Buffer: The Bind of the Justice Dept.’s No. 2,’ focused on Bl,anche’s reported conflicts with other members of the Trump administration, including Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The piece, written by reporters Glenn Thrush and Alan Feuer, claimed that Bondi and Blanche were united in their disapproval of Patel, whom they viewed as a lightweight more interested in social media than fulfilling his job duties. The article described how, in practice, Blanche and Bondi often struggled to get Patel aligned with their goals, as per seven current and former administration officials.
In response, both Blanche and Patel took to their X accounts to denounce the publication, with Blanche calling the Times ‘failing’ and ‘trash,’ and Patel labeling it the ‘journalistic equivalent of crash test dummies.’ The New York Times defended its report, stating it was based on conversations with seven officials who had direct knowledge of the internal dynamics of the Justice Department.
Patel and Blanche were recently interviewed by Fox News Digital at the FBI’s Chicago Field Office regarding President Donald Trump’s crackdown on crime and illegal immigration through ‘Operation Midway Blitz.’ During the interview, Patel dismissed rumors about former FBI Director James Comey being arrested and paraded in a ‘perp walk’ display, insisting that the media was more interested in creating drama than focusing on the real issues.