FBI Director Kash Patel recently took a trip to Italy, coinciding with the men’s Winter Olympics hockey finals. However, the FBI clarifies that this journey is strictly professional and not for leisure.

Patel flew to Europe aboard a government aircraft on Thursday. His visit aligns with Team USA’s pursuit of a second hockey gold medal, following the women’s team’s thrilling overtime victory against Canada.

An enthusiastic ice hockey supporter and amateur player, Patel arrived on Thursday evening and intends to witness both the bronze and gold medal matches over the weekend.

Team USA advanced to the semifinals by defeating Sweden 2-1 on Wednesday, setting up a semifinal clash against Slovakia on Friday. A win could see them face Canada in a highly anticipated final.

The cost of Patel’s flight to Italy is estimated to reach up to $75,000, based on typical government aircraft rates for such journeys.

FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson emphasized that this trip was planned long in advance for official purposes. Patel is scheduled to meet with ambassadors, Italian law enforcement, and American agents based at the Legat. Williamson also highlighted the FBI’s significant involvement in ensuring Olympic security.

A source familiar with the director’s role told the Daily Mail that the FBI ‘will be in charge of security completely for FIFA [World Cup] and the 2028 American Olympics.’

‘So if you don’t like to get blown up [at] major events, be grateful he is putting in this work now,’ the source fumed.

FBI director Kash Patel has flown to Italy but officials insist he is there for a business trip 

Team USA faces Slovakia in the semifinals on Friday, ahead of a potential clash with Canada

The Americans reached the semifinals thanks to a 2-1 win over Sweden on Wednesday

‘Kash just called me and told me to add: ‘Please tell them yes, I am rooting for the greatest team on earth from the greatest country on earth. Go Team USA,” Williamson wrote on X. 

Jason Kelce and Tom Brady were both in the stands as Team USA came from behind to secure a 2-1 win in the women’s final on Thursday.

Earlier this month, meanwhile, JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance traveled to Milan for the Olympics opening ceremony. The vice president was booed by some fans inside the stadium.

Patel plays in a hockey league in Virginia and has coached youth hockey in the past.

The FBI Director has come under fire over the last year for using government aircraft for personal travel – like attending UFC fights and rodeos with his country music artist girlfriend Alexis Wilkins.

Flight tracking data confirmed Patel’s movement, according to a CBS News review. It shows him taking a short flight from Manassas, Virginia to Joint Vase Andrews in Maryland on Wednesday, and then on Thursday morning hopping aboard the government plane en route to a US Air Force base in Italy. 

Williamson insists the flight is a business journey planned months in advance for the purposes of discussing security with international law enforcement arms. He called reports ‘misleading’ for saying the trip was made solely for the purpose of attending the Olympics. 

The hockey game was tacked onto the trip at the last minute, the source familiar told the Daily Mail of the decision for Patel to stop by the men’s hockey medal rounds while in Italy.

‘This wasn’t even decided until the day before he left,’ they detailed.  

Patel has used the FBI plane in the past to attend hockey games. Pictured: Patel sits with former NHL player Wayne Gretzky (center) and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman (right) during the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks hockey game on April 4, 2025

Patel has also come under fire for using the plane to go to sporting events with his country music star girlfriend Alexis Wilkins. Pictured: Patel and Wilkins attend a rodeo together

Patel has previously used the FBI plane, the operations of which are funded by taxpayer money, to attend hockey games.

Back in April, he turned up at a charity hockey event – hosted by the FBI – before sitting alongside Wayne Gretzky as Capitals star Alex Ovechkin broke the NHL scoring record. 

It costs US taxpayers a minimum of $5,000 per flight hour when the FBI Gulfstream jet is in air, according to government account estimates for the aircraft. This means that Patel’s trip could run taxpayers as much as $75,000, though actual cost could vary depending on multiple factors. 

‘Do we think taking the taxpayer jet is worth the FBI Director meeting with all of these law enforcement agencies to keep Americans safe?’ the source familiar posed to the Daily Mail when asked about the cost of going to Italy.