Daijiworld Media Network - Milan
Milan, Feb 23: Kash Patel was present in Milan on Sunday as the United States men’s hockey team clinched gold with an overtime win over Canada, later joining the squad in the locker room for celebrations.
Patel shared photographs on X showing him alongside players, including overtime hero Jack Hughes and the Tkachuk brothers, wearing their gold medals. Another image featured Patel posing with USA head coach Mike Sullivan as players celebrated in the background.
“Unity, Sacrifice, Attitude — what it takes to be the best in the world,” Patel wrote. “Now Team USA are gold medal champions, legends standing on the shoulders of giants.”
A video circulating on social media showed Patel celebrating with the team and being presented with a gold medal. Addressing media attention over his presence, Patel wrote that he was “extremely humbled” to be invited into the locker room to mark the historic win.
The appearance came shortly after Patel announced on social media that the FBI was assisting in the investigation of a fatal shooting at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. During the hockey game, his official account posted that an armed individual had been shot and killed after unlawfully entering the perimeter and that the FBI was dedicating necessary resources to the probe in coordination with the Secret Service and other agencies.
Patel has recently faced criticism over his handling of sensitive cases, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk, as well as scrutiny regarding his travel and public communications.
However, FBI assistant director for public affairs Ben Williamson clarified that Patel’s Italy visit was official and included meetings with Italian law enforcement and security officials, along with a US consulate briefing on Olympic security. He dismissed suggestions that the trip was personal in nature.
Patel, known to be an avid hockey fan, has attended NHL games in the past and was seen enthusiastically celebrating the team’s gold-medal triumph in Milan.