Kash Patel made history on Thursday by becoming the first Indian American to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), following a closely contested Senate confirmation vote of 51-49. The Republican-majority Senate approved Patel's nomination, though two Republican Senators, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, joined all Democrats in opposing the confirmation of former President Trump's nominee. Patel's appointment marks a significant milestone, as he is not only the first Indian American but also the first person of Asian descent to hold the position of FBI Director.
His appointment has sparked considerable political attention, accompanied by a viral AI-generated video of Patel dancing to Malhari, a popular song from the Bollywood film Bajirao Mastani, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and starring Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, and Priyanka Chopra. The video has taken social media by storm, adding a unique cultural twist to the buzz surrounding his appointment.
Malhari has been a chart-topper since the time Bajirao Mastani released. Ranveer Singh's energetic dance moves won the hearts of fans worldwide. The song soon became a meme favourite with fans recreating versions of it featuring multiple famous personalities. It resurfacing now as Kash Patel takes on the new role shows how the appeal of Malhari hasn't died down yet.Dan Scaviono, assistant to the President and White House Deputy Chief of Staff, shared the video and wrote, "Congratulations to the new Director of the FBI, @Kash_Patel!"
Kash Patel was born to Gujarati parents in New York on February 25, 1980, in Garden City, New York. He went on to graduate from the University of Richmond and later earned a Juris Doctor from Pace University School of Law.Kash Patel was confirmed to be the director of the FBI following a close vote in the US Senate, with 51 votes in his favour and 49 votes against him. A Trump loyalist who has fiercely criticised the agency, Patel will inherit an FBI gripped by turmoil as the Justice Department over the past month has forced out a group of senior bureau officials and made a highly unusual demand for the names of thousands of agents who participated in investigations related to the January 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol.