FBI Director Kash Patel praised the gold-medal winning U.S. hockey team — and mocked the “very concerned media” — in a social media post acknowledging that he had, in fact, rubbed elbows with the Olympic champions after their dramatic win over Canada.

“For the very concerned media — yes, I love America and was extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys,” Patel posted on X. “Greatest country on earth and greatest sport on earth.”

For the very concerned media – yes, I love America and was extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys- Greatest country on earth and greatest sport on earth.…

— Kash Patel (@Kash_Patel) February 23, 2026

Patel shared another congratulatory post earlier on Sunday, including several photos of the team and of himself celebrating alongside them. “Unity, Sacrifice, Attitude,” he said. “What it takes to be the best in the world. These men live and breathe it. Now Team USA are gold medal champions, legends standing on the shoulders of giants. Thank you for representing the greatest country on earth, in the greatest game ever created. Congrats, boys.”

Unity, Sacrifice, Attitude- what it takes to be the best in the world. These men live and breathe it. Now Team USA are gold medal champions, legends standing on the shoulders of giants. Thank you for representing the greatest country on earth, in the greatest game ever created.… pic.twitter.com/hBG987pxM2

— Kash Patel (@Kash_Patel) February 22, 2026

The game Patel attended was historic in itself, as the American team won in overtime against rival Canada — marking the first time a U.S. men’s hockey team has won Olympic gold in 46 years. In fact, the Americans haven’t taken the top of the podium since the game dubbed “the Miracle on Ice” — 1980’s Lake Placid win over the heavily-favored Soviet Union.

Patel’s trip to Italy — which coincided with the final weekend of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan and included a number of visits with various Italian officials — has been the subject of much media speculation.

Some outlets criticized the FBI director over the timing of the trip, claiming that the real purpose was for him to attend the Olympic Games at taxpayer expense. Others were concerned about the number of active investigations in which the FBI was playing a role.

Xochitl Hinojosa, a Democratic strategist, complained, “There was a threat at the president’s residence at MAL, Americans in Mexico are facing major threats by cartel members, Nancy Guthrie is still missing, and our FBI Director thinks he’s a frat bro?”

Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) laughed off the prospect of a 2028 Democratic primary face-off between himself and former Vice President Kamala Harris, saying that if that were to come to fruition it would be because “it’s fate.”

The California governor — who will soon be term-limited out and tops the list of potential Democratic presidential contenders — discussed the possibility with CNN anchor and “State of the Union” host Dana Bash, who asked how he might handle standing across the debate stage from the former vice president.

WATCH:

Gavin Newsom on possibly facing Kamala Harris in the 2028 presidential primary: “I’ve never gotten in the way of her ambition” pic.twitter.com/PDm8CmkR96

— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) February 22, 2026

“Kamala Harris. You write about the fact that you’ve been friends with her for a very long time, you came up together,” Bash began, referencing Newsom’s recent memoir. “You talk about your parallel careers: she was prosecutor, California D.A., and Senator; you were San Francisco Mayor, Lieutenant Governor, and Governor.”

“What happens if and when those parallel careers intersect and collide?” she asked, and Newsom began to laugh long before she was able to finish the question.

“Well, I’m San Francisco and she’s L.A., so we’re a little bit — there’s a little distance between the two of us,” Newsom protested, but Bash pointed out the fact that she was talking about national politics.

“2028. The whole country,” she said.

“That’s — you know, fate will determine that,” Newsom shrugged. “And I’ve never gotten in the way of her ambition, ever. I haven’t. And I don’t imagine I would in the future. But I don’t —”

“But if you run against each other for president —” Bash tried again.

“That’s fate,” Newsom said again, dismissing the question entirely. “You only can control what you can control. I think this entire book is that fundamental lesson. And this notion of controlling what you control, and taking responsibility for what you control, is a big part of what I try to communicate in this book. That’s the third thing, it’s like how this book will be received. It’s the third thing, I can’t control it. I can’t control whatever decisions she makes.”