William Webster, who previously led both the FBI and CIA, has come out against President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Kash Patel for FBI director. While Webster claims Patel’s ties to Trump could undermine the FBI’s independence, many view his objections as proof that Patel could effectively challenge the Deep State.
Webster’s lengthy career in intelligence has made him a fixture of Washington’s bureaucratic establishment. Critics argue that his resistance to Patel reflects a broader unwillingness within the intelligence community to embrace meaningful reform.
One of the Deep Staters who seems very worried that the FBI will be forced onto the straight and narrow is William Webster, one of the deepest of the Deep Staters. #kashpatelfbidirector https://t.co/2nPndnC35c
— St. John (pronounced Sinjun) O’Callaghan (@st_sinjun) December 27, 2024
The FBI has faced accusations of politicization under leaders like Christopher Wray and Andrew McCabe. Patel has pledged to overhaul the agency by removing entrenched biases and focusing on impartial enforcement of the law.
William Webster is 100 years old. God bless him, but the agencies he was part of are no longer what they were. They need significant change. Patel and Gabbard can lead such an effort. They need to be approved.
— AnytaAynn (@SconnieinTexas) December 29, 2024
Webster warned that Patel’s loyalty to Trump sets a dangerous precedent for the FBI’s impartiality. However, Patel’s supporters argue that Webster’s opposition underscores the nominee’s potential to disrupt the status quo and bring accountability to the bureau.
William Webster: The Swamp's Very Own Crypt Keeper Has Thoughts
William Webster, 100 years old and apparently still clinging to swamp talking points, just crawled out of retirement (or the crypt?) to attack Trump’s picks for Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard. The man’s been around so… pic.twitter.com/3XmZPuQcVi
— Joe Portman (@RealJoePortman) December 29, 2024
Patel’s critics accuse him of being too closely aligned with Trump, while his defenders see him as a necessary reformer who will challenge the Deep State’s grip on federal agencies.
Better to reject William Webster.
— Den Gormley (@GormleyDen) December 30, 2024
The Senate’s confirmation hearings for Patel are expected to be a key battleground for debates over the future direction of the FBI.
