If legacy media "journalists" wonder why many conservatives don't return their calls or emails, the stories by CBS News and MSNOW about FBI Director Kash Patel's trip to the Winter Olympics is a great example to point them to. We know that if we respond to them, anything said or written will be taken out of context, if it's even used at all. They already have the piece written and the narrative decided upon before contacting the subject of the piece - if they even contact them at all.
So, here's the narrative both CBS and MSNOW are peddling: That Patel, who plays rec league hockey, has commandeered the FBI's Gulfstream jet to go watch the US Men's Hockey team play in Milan, Italy. Just for fun.
Here's MSNOW's headline: Kash Patel heads to Milan for the Olympics — on the FBI jet
And CBS News: FBI Director Kash Patel takes agency jet to Italy, plans to attend Olympic hockey games, sources say
CBS' article published first and was essentially a rehash of old complaints about Patel's use of the FBI jet and public flight tracking info. The outlet said that Patel's office didn't respond to a request for comment before publication, but didn't reveal what that request said. Did they say that they were going to assert that he was using the FBI jet for personal entertainment reasons? Or did they simply ask for confirmation that Patel was heading to Milan?
When the piece came out, FBI Assistant Director for Public Affairs, Ben Williamson, said on social media:
This article is designed to mislead - CBS is just looking at public flight tracking, guessing, and then filling space with old info and quotes from Democrats.
No, it’s not a personal trip. Director Patel is on a trip that was planned months ago. It includes: partner meetings with Italian law enforcement and security officials (they invited the Director last July), meeting with Ambassador Fertitta (as a follow up to our law enforcement roundtable he hosted in January), meetings with Legat staff, and more.
The FBI also has a major role in Olympic security - as we do with the World Cup, F1, and more - so we have a U.S. consulate briefing on Olympic security and current FBI posture, as well as thanking FBI personnel on the ground.
Williamson followed up, saying:
Kash just called me and told me to add “Please tell them yes, I am rooting for the greatest team on earth from the greatest country on earth. Go Team USA 🇺🇸.” cc: @CBSNews please add.
CBS then updated its story to note Williamson's public response - well, part of it, anyway. They left out the part about the FBI having a major role in Olympic security at the current games, and given that the United States is hosting the 2028 Summer Games, it makes sense that the FBI Director would want to be on the ground during at least part of the Milan games to personally observe what's going well and what's not going well.
MSNOW then wanted in on the action, and when they contacted Patel's office, Williamson says he gave them "the Director's almost entire official meeting schedule while in Italy."
I literally gave this rag the Director’s almost entire official meeting schedule while in Italy and they still tweeted this garbage https://t.co/Tmo5r5ne0o
— Ben Williamson (@_WilliamsonBen) February 19, 2026
Still, they went with the extremely misleading headline referenced above, and these two intro paragraphs:
FBI Director Kash Patel flew today on the FBI’s Gulfstream jet bound for a trip to the winter Olympics in Italy to watch one of his favorite sports: men’s ice hockey, according to three people familiar with his plans.
Patel, an avid hockey player and fan, will be at the Olympic festivities and plans to attend the bronze medal competition in men’s ice hockey on Saturday and the competition for the gold medal on Sunday, the people said.
Only then did MSNOW add:
An FBI official confirmed Patel’s travel plans, but said he has several official government purposes for attending, including a meeting with an ambassador, briefings on Olympics security and other government meetings.
Shameful.
Editor's Note: The mainstream media continues to deflect, gaslight, spin, and lie about President Trump, his administration, and conservatives.
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