Kash Patel is facing backlash after reports claimed his country music star girlfriend, Alexis Watkins, has been assigned an FBI SWAT team for personal protection – a move critics say is highly unusual.
Elite Agents Assigned to Celebrity Girlfriend
According to MS NOW, the elite agents tasked with protecting Watkins typically operate out of the FBI’s Nashville field office and are trained for major incidents, including mass shootings and terror attacks. Watkins spends most of her time in Nashville, rarely visiting Patel’s homes in Washington, D.C., or Las Vegas, raising questions about the necessity of such protection.
Former senior FBI agent Christopher O’Leary called it “a clear abuse of position and misuse of government resources,” noting that Watkins is neither Patel’s spouse nor a resident of the same city.
O’Leary also pointed out that security details were recently removed from officials under real threat, including former National Security Adviser John Bolton.
Attorney General Pam Bondi swears in the new Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel (pictured alongside his girlfriend Alexis Wilkins). Credit: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images.
Patel’s Controversial Use of Government Resources
Patel’s tenure as FBI director has already been shadowed by controversy, including his use of the Bureau’s $60 million government plane for a “date night” in Pennsylvania to see Watkins perform the national anthem at a wrestling match.
While directors are required to use official aircraft, Patel reimbursed for personal use, though critics argue this is another misuse of resources.
Two years prior, Patel criticized his predecessor, Chris Wray, on his podcast, Kash’s Corner, for using government jets – a stark contrast to his later actions once he took office.
Patel Defends Girlfriend on Social Media
In response to the criticism, Patel went on social media to defend Watkins, calling her a “true patriot” who “has done more for this nation than most will in ten lifetimes.”
He condemned attacks on her as “cowardly” and insisted his love for family and personal life would not be undermined.
Watkins’ Legal Battle Against False Allegations
Watkins is also in the midst of a lawsuit against Samuel Parker, a former U.S. Senate candidate who alleged she had connections to Israeli intelligence.
Her lawsuit claims Parker’s accusations are false, affirming that Watkins is a “Christian, American-born U.S. citizen” with no intelligence ties, per Newsweek.
Credit: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images.
National Security Implications
Critics argue that Patel’s use of an elite FBI unit for personal protection raises serious questions about priorities.
The optics of assigning tactical agents to a celebrity girlfriend during a period of heightened security threats have fueled calls for accountability and scrutiny over government resource use.