Steve Bannon, the former White House chief of the Republican Party, has questioned the current administration's current satisfaction with FBI Director Kash Patel following a report from The Atlantic about his personal conduct. During his "War Room" podcast, Bannon suggested that Fox News host Maria Bartiromo's questioning of Patel about the 2020 election was a "sanctioned hit" from the Trump administration. Patel has been embroiled in scandal over the past several months, including a scathing story published in The Atlantic and his behavior at the 2026 Winter Olympics. He has filed a $250 million lawsuit against The Atlantic, accusing it of publishing a "hit piece" and claims his presence at the Olympics was part of his official duties.