Kash Patel Cancels Chicago Trip After White House Summons Over $1 Million Travel Scrutiny
Updated
Updated · ms.now · Jul 10
Kash Patel Cancels Chicago Trip After White House Summons Over $1 Million Travel Scrutiny
3 articles · Updated · ms.now · Jul 10
Summary
Friday’s Chicago flight was canceled as Patel was preparing to depart, with people familiar with the change saying top Trump officials wanted him at the White House instead.
A morning tweet mocking coverage of his lifestyle and broader anger over his travel habits helped trigger the backlash, according to people briefed on efforts to repair his standing.
The scrapped trip had already drawn internal FBI complaints because staff added a Chicago field-office stop to coincide with his girlfriend’s Saturday country festival performance, raising accusations the official jet was being used as cover for a personal weekend.
That scrutiny follows earlier questions from Chuck Grassley and Democrats about Patel’s use of FBI aircraft, luxury armored BMWs and alleged travel perks, after prior trips including a Milan Olympics visit estimated by former officials to cost at least $1 million.
The White House denied Patel was summoned out of frustration, calling his meetings unrelated, but the episode underscores irritation inside Trump’s orbit as Patel’s travel repeatedly generates damaging headlines during renewed tensions with Iran.