Trump’s nomination of Kash Patel was met with massive backlash from the right, the left

President-elect Trump’s nomination of Kash Patel as FBI director sparked a strong reaction from supporters and critics Saturday night.

Patel’s appointment hints at major changes the agency is likely to undergo under the second Trump administration. As a staunch Trump supporter, Patel is a fierce critic of government corruption and the so-called “deep state,” and has blasted the office in the past.

In a September interview with “The Shawn Ryan Show,” Patel said the FBI’s trail was “too big.”

“I would close the FBI Hoover Building on the first day and open the next day as a Deep State museum,” Patel said.

TRUMP CHOOSES KASH PATEL TO SERVE AS FBI DIRECTOR: ‘HE REPRESENTS THE TRUTH’

Trump has historically not been a fan of the FBI, which raided his Florida estate in 2022, and in previous years investigated false claims that he was a Russian asset. Most observers expect Trump to want his administration to make major changes.

“Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator and ‘America First’ fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending justice and protecting the American people,” Trump said in a statement. “He played a key role in exposing the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, standing as an advocate for truth, accountability and the Constitution.”

Patel’s nomination was met with immediate praise from Republicans. Attorney Elise Stefanik, RN.Y., Trump’s pick for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, called Patel an “America First fighter.” Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., also praised the choice.

“Great decision by @realDonaldTrump,” Donalds wrote on X. “Kash is passionate and 100% America First.”

Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, also offered his congratulations.

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Former Chief of Staff to US Defense Secretary Kash Patel speaks during former President Trump’s campaign at the Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, Ariz., on Oct. 13. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

“Kash was Instrumental in President Trump’s first term and will be HUGE in his second!” former White House physician wrote. “It’s time to clean this place up, and Kash is the man to do it!!! MAGA!”

Analysts on the left, however, chose to choose. MSNBC’s Morning Joe previously called Patel “the personification of MAGA’s anger at the Justice Department and the FBI.”

On Saturday night, left-wing commentator Mehdi Hassan accused Patel of being “a weird and shocking and kind person.” Andrew McCabe, who served briefly as acting FBI director under Trump in 2017 before being fired over allegations of leaks and “indiscretion,” called Patel’s appointment “a plan to disrupt, disrupt, disrupt the FBI.”

“It’s a terrible development for the men and women of the FBI, and for the entire country that depends on a very efficient, high-quality Federal Bureau of Investigation,” McCabe said on CNN. “The fact that Kash Patel is not qualified for the job is not up for debate.”

Trump nominated Patel to lead the FBI in the new administration. (Getty Images)

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Tom Nichols, a staff writer for The Atlantic, told MSNBC that Patel is “as dangerous as it gets.”

“I think if we still have the power to insult, it’s scary,” Nichols said. “But I think this is something that … a lot of us saw coming and, you know, it shouldn’t be surprising. But it’s an incredibly dangerous development.”

Two conditions would have to be met for Patel to take over: Current FBI Director Christopher Wray would have to resign or be fired, and Patel would need to be confirmed by the US Senate.

Wray has not announced his intention to resign. On Saturday night, the FBI told Fox News Digital that Wray was focused on his job.

Former Defense Department Chief of Staff Kash Patel greets the crowd during a campaign rally at Minden-Tahoe Airport in Minden, Nev., on Oct. 8, 2022. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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“Every day, the men and women of the FBI continue to work to protect the American people from growing threats,” an FBI spokesperson said. “Director Wray is focused on the men and women of the FBI, the people we work with, and the people we work for.”

Fox News Digital’s Peter Pinedo contributed to this report.