Director of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation Cash Battle He attended the 2026 Winter Olympics, and some people are wondering why he was there after a video of him celebrating with the Team USA men’s hockey team went viral. Critics accused Patel of using taxpayer money to fund his trip to Milan, Italy, and his visit came soon after J.D. Vance and Osha VanceAppearance in games.
Here’s what we know about Patel’s Milan Cortina appearance at the Olympic Games.
How old was Kash Patel at the 2026 Winter Olympics?
Patel hasn’t been in the Olympics for long. His visit appeared to be short, as he was seen watching the men’s gold medal match on February 22. Later that evening, a video of him drinking beer and celebrating with the hockey team in the locker room went viral on social media.
According to CBS News, Patel flew on a government plane from Joint Base Andrews near Washington, D.C., to a US Air Force base in Italy on February 19. However, the FBI denied that this was a personal trip and insisted that Patel’s visit had been planned months in advance.
This article is designed to mislead — CBS is just looking at tracking public flights, guessing, and then filling the space with outdated information and quotes from Democrats.
No, it’s not a personal trip. Director Patel is on a trip that has been planned for months. It includes: partner meetings… https://t.co/hgsF4IHvYp
— Ben Williamson (@_WilliamsonBen) February 19, 2026
FBI spokesman Ben Williamson criticized CBS for its report on Patel’s trip in a tweet, saying: “No, it’s not a personal trip. Director Patel is on a trip that has been planned for months. It includes: partner meetings with Italian law enforcement and security officials (they invited the Director last July), meeting with Ambassador Fertitta (as a follow-up to our Law Enforcement Roundtable he hosted in January), meetings with Legatt’s staff, and more.”
Williamson added that the FBI “also plays a key role in Olympic security – as we do with the World Cup, Formula 1, and more – so we have a briefing for the US Consulate on Olympic security and the FBI’s current position, as well as thanking FBI staff on the ground.”
Why was Kash Patel in the 2026 Olympics?
Apparently, Patel was there to watch the men’s hockey final between Team USA and Team Canada. Patel was photographed in the stands at Milan’s Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, wearing a white USA jersey to cheer on the team.
“Unity, sacrifice, attitude – what it takes to be the best in the world,” Patel tweeted later that day about the US men’s Olympic hockey team. “These guys live and breathe it. Now Team USA are gold medal champions, legends standing on the shoulders of giants. Thank you for representing the greatest country on Earth, in the greatest game ever created. Congratulations to the boys.”
In a separate tweet that evening, Patel wrote to a “very concerned media” about his appearance in the locker room with the men’s team, adding: “Yes, I love America and was very humbled when my friends, recent gold medalists on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys – the greatest country on Earth and the greatest sport on Earth.”
