By Trendsetter Tribune 
WASHINGTON — FBI Director Kash Patel is facing a wave of bipartisan criticism and internal scrutiny after a series of viral videos showed him “chugging beers” and rowdily celebrating with the U.S. Men’s Olympic Hockey Team following their gold medal victory in Milan. As of Sunday night, February 22, 2026, the footage has ignited a fierce debate over the professional conduct of the nation’s top law enforcement officer, with critics labeling the bureau a “rudderless ship” under his leadership.
The incident occurred while the FBI was simultaneously managing high-profile crises back home, including a fatal shooting at Mar-a-Lago and the ongoing search for a high-profile missing person.
The Gold Medal “Bender”
The controversy began shortly after Team USA defeated Canada 2-1 in a historic overtime thriller at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Patel, a lifelong hockey enthusiast, was seen in the locker room shortly after the final whistle.
- The Footage: Clips circulating on social media show Patel being gifted a gold medal by players, chugging a beer to the cheers of the team, and splashing the contents of a second beer into the air while singing along to Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.”
- The Justification: Patel defended the celebration on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “Yes, I love America and was extremely humbled when my friends… invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys. Greatest country on earth and greatest sport on earth.”
- The “Business” Trip: While the FBI maintains the trip was for “partner meetings” with Italian police and Ambassador Tilman Fertitta, critics note the timing perfectly coincided with the Olympic medal rounds.
A Split Focus: Mar-a-Lago and Missing Persons
The “optics” of the celebration have been described by critics as catastrophic, given the events unfolding in the United States while Patel was in Milan.
| Event | Timeline (Feb 22, 2026) | FBI Status |
| Mar-a-Lago Breach | Sunday Morning: Secret Service shot and killed an armed man who breached the perimeter of the President’s Florida home. | Patel posted on X that the FBI was “dedicating all necessary resources” to the probe just hours before the hockey game. |
| Nancy Guthrie Search | Ongoing: Investigators are scouring the Northeast for the missing mother of Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. | Critics noted that while the search intensified, the Director was in a VIP hospitality suite in Italy. |
| Mexican Raid | Sunday: U.S. intelligence helped Mexican forces kill drug kingpin “El Mencho,” leading to a “shelter in place” alert for U.S. citizens in Mexico. | The FBI played a supporting role in the intelligence gathering for the raid. |
“Not a Serious Organization”: The Internal Fallout
The beer-chugging incident is the latest in a series of controversies that have plagued Patel’s one-year tenure at the bureau. A leaked 115-page assessment from retired and active-duty agents recently described the FBI as “internally paralyzed by fear.”
- The Jet Controversy: Congressional Democrats have intensified a probe into Patel’s use of the government jet for personal travel, citing recent trips to a golf tournament in Scotland and a “date night” in Pennsylvania.
- Plummeting Morale: Insiders have characterized Patel as being “in over his head,” with one source telling The Guardian that the Director lacks a “deep understanding” of complex investigative programs.
- The “Toby Keith” Response: While Patel’s supporters see the celebration as a sign of “unfiltered patriotism,” long-time bureau veterans argue that the Director of the FBI should maintain a level of “sober detachment” from public revelry.
“The FBI is not a fraternity. It is the premier law enforcement agency in the world. Seeing the Director chugging beers in a locker room while a shooter is being processed at the President’s home is a slap in the face to the rank-and-file who are working 20-hour shifts.” — Unnamed Senior FBI Official
The “Loyalty over Conduct” Defense
Despite the backlash, the White House has remained supportive of Patel. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that the President was “thrilled” with Team USA’s win and saw nothing wrong with the Director showing his support for “American excellence.”
Kash Patel chugging beers with Team USA. The FBI is not a serious organization.
— The Liberal BoJack (@thelibbojack.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 11:22 PM
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