The Federal Bureau of Investigation took to the social platform X to push back against a story that had begun circulating. In its post, the FBI said that reports claiming Director Kash Patel had just landed in Russia were false. The post also named the outlet that had originated the tale—MS NOW—and labeled that report as unreliable.
Kash Patel himself weighed in. He wrote in Russian, “факты важнее кликбейта,” which translates to “Facts are more important than clickbait.”
Russian officials also entered the conversation. Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for the presidency, noted that visits of this kind are rarely announced in advance.
It said Patel was at Liberty University, taking part in a law‑enforcement appreciation event.
The FBI’s social‑media post included a concrete detail about where the director actually was on the day in question. It said Patel was at Liberty University, taking part in a law‑enforcement appreciation event. This matched an earlier note that he was engaged in a law‑enforcement‑related gathering in Virginia, placing him firmly inside the United States rather than abroad.
According to the FBI, the two sources cited by MS NOW were “familiar” with nothing, meaning they had no knowledge of any travel plans.
As of October 14, 2026, the denial remains the official position. The director continues to fulfill his duties, most recently at the Virginia‑based law‑enforcement event, while the FBI’s statement on X stands as its public rebuttal.