William Webster, the only person to have served as both FBI and CIA director, has publicly opposed President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Kash Patel to lead the FBI. While Webster claims his concern is about maintaining the agency’s independence, some see his opposition as emblematic of a broader resistance to reform within the intelligence community.
William Webster Crawls Out of Retirement to Save the Swamp
Who does William Webster think he is? This washed-up relic of the D.C. swamp—who hasn’t been relevant since fax machines were cutting-edge—is now telling senators to reject Kash Patel as FBI Director and Tulsi Gabbard as… pic.twitter.com/gazvDlDfYF
— Joe Portman (@RealJoePortman) December 28, 2024
One of the Deep Staters who seems very worried that the FBI will be forced onto the straight and narrow is William Webster, one of the deepest of the Deep Staters. #kashpatelfbidirector https://t.co/2nPndnC35c
— St. John (pronounced Sinjun) O’Callaghan (@st_sinjun) December 27, 2024
Webster’s career, which spans decades and multiple administrations, has positioned him as a key figure in the so-called “Deep State.” Critics of entrenched bureaucratic power argue that Webster’s opposition to Patel is less about principles and more about protecting the status quo.
William Webster is 100 years old. God bless him, but the agencies he was part of are no longer what they were. They need significant change. Patel and Gabbard can lead such an effort. They need to be approved.
— AnytaAynn (@SconnieinTexas) December 29, 2024
Under previous FBI directors, including Christopher Wray and James Comey, the agency has faced allegations of political interference and bias, particularly during investigations involving Trump. Patel’s nomination represents a challenge to this legacy, with his supporters calling for a break from past practices.
Former FBI and CIA chief urges senators to sink Patel, Gabbard https://t.co/xDnj4fe86X #FoxNews
Tulsi and Kash's backgrounds and experience far exceed what William Webster had when he was selected to run the FBI & CIA. Given his comments, he never should have been picked for…— 31Kelleher (@31Kelleher) December 29, 2024
William Webster: The Swamp's Very Own Crypt Keeper Has Thoughts
William Webster, 100 years old and apparently still clinging to swamp talking points, just crawled out of retirement (or the crypt?) to attack Trump’s picks for Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard. The man’s been around so… pic.twitter.com/3XmZPuQcVi
— Joe Portman (@RealJoePortman) December 29, 2024
Webster’s critique of Patel’s loyalty to Trump has drawn scrutiny from those who view the FBI’s recent history as politically charged. Patel’s backers argue that his willingness to confront the agency’s leadership makes him the ideal candidate to enact meaningful reform.
Better to reject William Webster.
— Den Gormley (@GormleyDen) December 30, 2024
If Webster and other intelligence veterans had endorsed Patel, it could have signaled a continuation of the FBI’s current direction. Instead, Webster’s vocal opposition has bolstered the perception that Patel’s leadership would mark a significant departure.
Patel’s stated goal of restoring public trust in the FBI by removing entrenched biases has made his nomination a flashpoint for debates over the future of the agency.
