FBI Director Kash Patel has sparked a social media frenzy after eagle-eyed viewers spotted him wearing a Liverpool FC tie while testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Patel, appearing in Washington on Tuesday to face questions over several issues — including the ongoing investigation into the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk — surprised many viewers with his choice of attire.
His red tie, bearing the iconic Liverpool crest near the top, quickly became a talking point online, with screenshots circulating widely within minutes of the hearing.
One user wrote on X: “Kash Patel wearing a Liverpool FC tie to his Senate hearing… very professional,” while others debated whether the choice was a light-hearted nod to his football allegiance or inappropriate for such a serious occasion.
FBI Director Kash Patel has sparked a social media frenzy after eagle-eyed viewers spotted him wearing a Liverpool FC tie while testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee
|GETTY/X
Patel has previously professed his support for the Premier League giants, even sharing a photo of himself wearing the same tie in April alongside the caption: “#YNWA… Liverpool PL Champs. Our good luck tie.”
Despite the online chatter, Patel focused his testimony on the FBI’s rapid response to Kirk’s killing.
Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old suspect accused of fatally shooting Kirk during a Q&A session at Utah Valley University, was apprehended just 33 hours after the attack.
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“It’s important that this FBI is as transparent as possible without jeopardising investigations,” Patel told lawmakers.
He defended his decision to provide live updates on X during the early stages of the case — an approach that has drawn criticism from some politicians.
On the day of Kirk’s murder, Patel initially announced the a suspect was in custody, only to post an update 90 minutes later confirming that they had been released following interrogation.
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Kash Patel has sparked a reaction from the football community after wearing a Liverpool tie during a hearing at the Senate in Washington
|REUTERS
The apparent U-turn sparked anger from critics, who accused the Bureau of mishandling the case.
Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) accused Patel of being “anxious to take credit” for the arrest, while Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) pressed the FBI director on balancing public safety with free speech rights online.
“Free speech doesn’t allow you to go on the internet and basically incite somebody to kill another person,” Graham said, with Patel agreeing.
Patel also confirmed that investigators are scrutinising a leaked Discord group chat that the alleged killer was reportedly part of, which is said to have included discussion of Kirk’s assassination.
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Charlie Kirk was speaking at a campus event in Utah when he was killed | REUTERSHowever, Discord has denied that its platform was used to plan the attack.
The FBI chief said several other groups remain under investigation as part of the probe into the high-profile political assassination, which has sent shockwaves through Washington and beyond.