Kash Patel joined Team USA’s celebration in the locker room after winning the gold medal 2-1 in overtime in Milan.
FBI Director Kash Patel was at the center of a viral moment Sunday night after joining the USA men’s hockey team in the locker room following their gold medal win at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.Footage shared on social media shows Patel celebrating alongside players after their 2-1 overtime win over Canada. Wearing a white T-shirt, he cheered as the team celebrated the victory, drinking beer and jumping with the players while one of them placed a gold medal around his neck. In one clip, he can be seen flashing the Xhaka sign and shouting congratulations as the team roars around him.
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The mood inside the locker room was raucous and jubilant, embodying the raw emotions of Olympic victory.
The United States’ victory over Canada added more intensity to the celebrations, given the historical rivalry between the two teams.
The video spread quickly across the Internet, and received strong reactions across social media platforms.Supporters praised Patel for embracing the moment, calling the celebration patriotic and a rare example of a senior official participating in a national sporting victory. One user wrote: “I love this!!! The FBI Director loves America and wants us to win!” Others described the Olympics as one of the few events that brings Americans together regardless of politics.
But critics questioned whether the offer was appropriate for the head of the nation’s top federal law enforcement agency. Some focused on the cost of official travel. “Fun fact: I paid over $400,000 for Cash Battle’s Olympic vacation,” one widely shared post read. The cost of the Italy trip has not been publicly disclosed.
Another viral comment accused Patel of taking a “taxpayer-funded vacation to Italy on a private jet to recreate the Drake Bros he believes is a team member with the USA Hockey Team.”
Patel responded to the reaction in a post on X, saying he felt “extremely humbled” when the team invited him into the locker room to celebrate what he described as a historic moment. He framed the experience as a privilege and an expression of national pride, not a political statement.
The episode has since moved beyond the ice rink. What started as a spontaneous post-match celebration evolved into a broader discussion about image, leadership and crowd expectations. For fans, the video depicts an official sharing a rare moment of unity and sporting triumph. For critics, it highlights concerns about the tone and standards applied to those in high government positions.
