Dan Bongino fires back at critics over Kash Patel’s Team USA celebration in Milan: 'Keep crying'

WASHINGTON, DC: Dan Bongino didn’t hold back when people began criticizing FBI Director Kash Patel for celebrating with Team USA after its Olympic hockey gold in Milan.

Patel faced backlash online when video surfaced of him in the locker room, beer in hand, cheering with the team right after the win. Some critics said he should not have been celebrating with the players while overseas on official business.

Dan Bongino defends Kash Patel’s Olympic security trip

Bongino dismissed the outrage, defending Patel’s presence at the event and arguing that his trip had official security purposes tied to upcoming international sporting events.

“Keep CRYING, man! I don’t give a damn. Let him have a good time with the team,” Bongino said while addressing the controversy.

Bongino said Patel did not travel to Milan merely for show; he was involved in broader security planning for the upcoming Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

He pointed out that the FBI plays a major role in organizing security for large international events.

Patel’s trip gave him an opportunity to see firsthand how Italian officials handle potential threats, such as drones and other airborne risks.

“So for him to go over there and take a look at what’s going on in Milan, what they’re doing about drones, UAPs, and other things,” Bongino said, arguing that such coordination is routine ahead of global events.

Kash Patel defends viral Team USA video

In videos shared with reporters, Patel was seen celebrating with the US men’s hockey team in the locker room after their Olympic gold medal win.

Patel appears in the videos drinking beer, wearing a gold medal, and dancing and singing with the team. “For the very concerned media - yes, I love America and was extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys,” Patel posted on X, defending the viral video.

“Greatest country on earth and greatest sport on earth.”

In December, congressional Democrats launched a probe into Patel’s use of government resources for what they described as personal reasons, including reports that he used a private FBI plane to travel to Pennsylvania to watch his girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins, perform at a wrestling match.

According to Bloomberg Law, a senior official overseeing aviation was forced out of the bureau shortly after the revelations, although Patel’s flight schedule is publicly available.