Recent discussions within the Trump administration have revealed that President Donald Trump was considering two candidates to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray: Kash Patel and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey. Sources familiar with the matter disclosed that Trump had initially earmarked Patel for a prominent national intelligence role or a position within the Department of Justice.
However, concerns arose among some of Trump's close associates, including individuals involved in his transition team, regarding the potential controversy surrounding Patel's Senate confirmation process. As a result, there were suggestions that Patel might be better suited for the role of deputy director of the FBI rather than assuming the position of director.
Despite these reservations, key figures in Trump's inner circle, such as his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, along with incoming deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, advocated for Patel's appointment. They argued that Patel was the ideal candidate to lead the necessary reforms within the bureau, which Trump perceives as harboring biases against him.
Trump conducted interviews with both Bailey and Patel at his Mar-a-Lago residence earlier in the month, engaging in regular phone conversations with them as he deliberated over his decision. Sources indicated that Trump was unimpressed with Bailey during their face-to-face meeting, asserting that Bailey did not possess the assertive legal demeanor that Trump sought in an FBI director.
One of Trump's advisers involved in the discussions remarked, 'It boiled down to Trump's specific preferences and the qualities he sought in an FBI director. Bailey did not align with those expectations, lacking the requisite personality and characteristics.'
