FBI Director Kash Patel told media that the man accused of killing conservative commentator Charlie Kirk said he acted because “some hatred cannot be negotiated with,” as the agency continues to face scrutiny over its conduct during the search and arrest.
Patel said investigators recovered a text-message exchange in which 22-year-old Tyler Robinson wrote that he had an opportunity to "take out Charlie Kirk" and intended to do so. The director told Fox News on Monday that Robinson "essentially admitted" to killing Kirk during interviews with FBI and local law enforcement, and that DNA from a towel wrapped around the firearm matched the suspect.
Robinson is scheduled to appear in court to be charged in the death of Kirk. Authorities said he was detained about 33 hours after Kirk’s death and that law enforcement publicly announced the suspect’s capture roughly 44 hours after the shooting. The arrest was made after Robinson’s father alerted authorities, Patel said.
Patel’s disclosure of the suspect’s alleged motive and details of the investigation comes as he prepares to face a Senate hearing this week on his management of the FBI’s response. Republican and conservative commentators have criticized the bureau’s handling of the search, citing what they say were multiple false leads and procedural missteps while the manhunt unfolded.
Several conservative figures called for scrutiny of Patel’s leadership after the arrest. Christopher Rufo, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute, wrote on X that Republicans should assess "whether Kash Patel is the right man to run the FBI," saying Patel "performed terribly in the last few days." Michael Brendan Dougherty of National Review questioned public accounts of the suspect’s radicalization and the pace of investigative disclosures. Radio host Erick Erickson said the "FBI situation is concerning" on X.
President Donald Trump said on Fox News that he was "very proud of the FBI" and praised Patel’s work. An online account identifying itself with pro-Patel sentiment posted that the bureau had arrested the suspect within 48 hours and urged that Patel not be removed.
Patel acknowledged errors in public messaging while defending his actions on Fox & Friends. He said the FBI was transparent about its progress, that agents had identified and interviewed a "subject" who was released, and that the agency must interview people later found not to be involved. "Could I have worded it a little better in the heat of the moment? Sure. But do I regret putting it out? Absolutely not," Patel said.
NBC News reported that Patel dined at the Upper East Side restaurant Rao’s as investigators searched for a suspect. A spokesperson for the FBI told NBC that the bureau worked with law enforcement partners in Utah to bring the alleged killer to justice and that the agency would continue to provide "real-time updates as we are able." Four former senior FBI officials told NBC that Patel’s early public statements were premature.
Patel, a former congressional staffer and administration official, was confirmed as FBI director by a 51–49 Senate vote on Feb. 20 this year, one month after President Trump’s second inauguration. Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski opposed his nomination. His tenure at the bureau has drawn controversy, including disputes over the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Both Patel and Trump had previously pledged to release the files in full.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the shooting, and court proceedings for Robinson are expected to clarify the charges and the evidence gathered. Patel said investigators would continue to provide information "as it comes out," while acknowledging that evidence collection and legal processes limit what can be disclosed immediately.
The killing of Kirk and the subsequent investigation have intensified political debate over law enforcement transparency, the FBI’s operational decisions in high-profile matters, and the broader handling of politically charged violence. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and outside observers are watching the Senate hearing this week for additional detail on how the FBI coordinated the search and for answers about the timeline of investigative actions that led to the arrest.