Tiffany Smiley, a former U.S. Senate candidate from Washington state, made waves on CNN’s State of the Union by asserting that Americans are likely untroubled by the unease felt by Washington insiders over President-elect Donald Trump’s FBI nominee. Her remarks underscored a broader sentiment: a growing lack of trust in the FBI and other institutions, which she suggested contributed to Trump’s rise to power.
.@SmileyForWA: "There's a lack of trust in the FBI with the American people... Donald Trump wants change agents. The fact that people here in DC -- DC insiders and people within the FBI -- don't want Kash is a really good sell to the American people." pic.twitter.com/9phpburoGv
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) December 1, 2024
Smiley framed the skepticism toward the FBI as reflective of a broader public yearning for change. Highlighting the credentials of Trump’s pick, Kash Patel, she noted his bipartisan experience, including roles at the Department of Justice under President Obama. For Smiley, Patel represented exactly the kind of "change agent" Trump supporters want—someone unafraid to rattle the establishment.
“Donald Trump wants change agents,” Smiley emphasized. “The fact that people here in DC—DC insiders and people within the FBI perhaps—don’t want Kash is a really good sell to the American people.”
Her perspective tapped into a wider frustration with entrenched power structures, an issue exacerbated by what many perceive as failures and overreach by the FBI. Critics like Los Angeles Times legal analyst Harry Litman condemned Patel’s nomination, describing it as a deliberate challenge to Senate authority. Litman’s comments, however, appeared to energize supporters of Patel’s nomination, with several high-profile responses amplifying Smiley’s argument.
Patel nomination is an affront to professionals at the FBI, who won’t forget it even if Patel goes down. It’s also a challenge to the Senate to see if it will just roll over. A total a-hole move by Trump.
— Harry Litman (@harrylitman) December 1, 2024
One such response came from Kevin McKeever, who saw the backlash as a kind of endorsement. “You can judge a nominee by his enemies,” he tweeted, calling Litman’s criticism a “Good Housekeeping Seal Of Approval” for Patel. Others echoed this sentiment, arguing that the FBI had long been “a law unto themselves” and that it was time for voter accountability to reclaim influence over such institutions.
You can judge a nominee by his enemies. In this case, the top "Senior Legal Affairs" guy for the L.A. Times.
This tweet is like the Good Housekeeping Seal Of Approval for Patel. https://t.co/ravzg8wK99
— Kevin McKeever (@bankofkev) December 1, 2024
Jesse Kelly, known for his sharp commentary, mocked the idea of FBI agents holding grudges as “super professional,” a sentiment that likely resonates with many who view the bureau as out of touch with public accountability.
“These FBI agents are professionals who will hold a grudge and hurt you because they don’t like the person you pick to lead them.”
Sounds super professional. https://t.co/YWHzFAyCsl
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) December 1, 2024