Kash Patel Could Ask UFC To Practice FBI Brokers—Report

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Peter Aitken is a Newsweek Politics Editor primarily based in New York. His focus is home U.S. politics, however he has expertise masking Overseas Affairs, Enterprise and Expertise. Peter joined Newsweek in 2024 from Fox Information Digital and had beforehand freelanced at Enterprise Insider. He has interviewed such notable figures as Benjamin Netanyahu, Gen. David H. Petraeus, British Overseas Ministers James Cleverly and Grant Shapps and a rating member of the Taliban. He graduated from the College of St. Andrews in Scotland, however is New York born and raised. You may get in contact with Peter by emailing p.aitken@newsweek.com. Languages: English.

Peter Aitken

Politics Weekend Editor

FBI Director Kash Patel has floated the thought of teaming with the Final Combating Problem (UFC) to coach brokers in martial arts, in accordance with a report.

Newsweek reached out to the Department of Justice, which oversees the FBI, by submission kind on Thursday afternoon for remark.

Why It Issues

Patel took workplace after a slender Senate affirmation vote that noticed him keep away from a impasse by one vote in a 51-49 cut up. He hit the bottom working with a whole overhaul of the FBI, together with plans to relocate as much as 1,000 staff to area places of work across the nation and 500 to an FBI workplace in Huntsville, Alabama.

Patel now has partnered with President Donald Trump‘s choose for deputy director, conservative podcast host Dan Bongino, who will go to the sphere places of work beginning in mid-March.

What To Know

The subsequent step in Patel’s overhaul might embody a partnership with UFC to coach FBI brokers in martial arts and self-defense abilities, Reuters reported, citing 4 folks conversant in the plan.

Patel revealed the thought throughout a video convention name with FBI area places of work on Wednesday. Two folks briefed on the matter advised Reuters that the thought was “surreal” and “wacky.” Patel credited Bongino, himself an enormous UFC fan, with inspiring the thought after urging his new boss to attempt UFC coaching.

Particulars about how the partnership would work weren’t clear to these briefed on the matter.

A former Justice Division official advised the outlet that the thought gave the impression to be “clearly motivated by the glitz and glamour present, and Trump’s pal,” referring to UFC CEO Dana White.

Trump and a few of his allies, together with Elon Musk, Tucker Carlson, Child Rock and others, have attended UFC fights, often sitting with White. Trump even visited a UFC combat inside every week of successful the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

What Individuals Are Saying

A UFC spokesperson advised Newsweek: “UFC President and CEO Dana White is aware of Director Patel, however we’re not conscious of any data relating to UFC and FBI coaching.”

Senator Dick Durbin, at Kash Patel’s affirmation listening to: “The nation wants an FBI director who understands the gravity of this mission and is prepared on day one, not somebody who’s consumed by his personal private political grievances.”

Senator John Curtis, a Utah Republican, on X, previously Twitter following Patel’s affirmation: “Individuals anticipate to see change inside the FBI, and I imagine Kash Patel can ship that. My main concern together with his nomination was making certain he would strategy the position with out political bias—a necessary high quality for any FBI Director. After cautious consideration, I plan to vote sure on his affirmation.”

What Occurs Subsequent

Patel has but to formally announce this system or thought, and can doubtless undergo Trump—because of the president’s shut, private relationship with UFC proprietor White—earlier than implementing any such plan.