FBI Director Kash Patel is facing renewed scrutiny following a report that he participated in a “VIP” snorkeling trip around the USS Arizona memorial during a previously undisclosed visit to Pearl Harbor last summer.
According to The Associated Press, Patel traveled to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam as part of a broader national security trip, with government emails detailing the visit. The report, published Thursday, noted that the excursion included time around one of America’s most sacred military memorials.
The USS Arizona stands as a solemn reminder of the devastating Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, an event that pushed the United States into World War II. The wrecked battleship remains the final resting place for more than 900 sailors and Marines who lost their lives in the attack, making the site both a national monument and a military grave.
Because of its historical and emotional significance, diving near the vessel is generally restricted. Exceptions are typically made only for Marine archaeologists and National Park Service crews tasked with preserving the site. However, the AP reported that the Navy and National Park Service have occasionally allowed select dignitaries to swim in the area.
Critics online quickly seized on the report, while supporters argued the visit was being unfairly portrayed as recreational rather than educational. The controversy also revived broader questions about how government officials engage with historic military landmarks that symbolize both sacrifice and the heavy cost of war.
Ben Williamson forcefully pushed back on the report Thursday in a social media post defending Patel and the purpose of the trip.
“The AP is attempting to spin an invitation from the Commanding General of Indo Pacom to a military base as a party or vacation, which is so stupid,” Williamson wrote.
He added that the Department of War “routinely does these engagements with interagency partners,” including the event involving Patel. Williamson also noted that Patel, during his previous role as chief of staff for the Department of Defense in President Trump’s first administration, had extended similar opportunities to visiting government officials.
“It’s a historical tour to honor heroes who died on the USS Arizona — not a party,” Williamson wrote.
An FBI spokesperson echoed that defense in comments to The Hill, stating that Indo-Pacific military leaders had invited Patel and members of his team to the base “as they commonly do with U.S. government officials on official travel.”
According to the spokesperson, the Hawaii stop was part of Patel’s official national security engagements last August, which included meetings with counterparts in New Zealand and Australia, as well as visits to the FBI’s Honolulu Field Office and the Department of War.
Still, the report adds to a growing list of controversies surrounding Patel’s tenure at the FBI. Earlier this year, he drew criticism after appearing in the locker room with the U.S. men’s hockey team following the squad’s Olympic victory. Patel later defended the appearance on social media, saying he was celebrating with his “friends.”
Patel also filed a lawsuit against The Atlantic in April over a report alleging that he feared losing his position and was difficult to reach after nights of alleged excessive drinking.
As debate continues over Patel’s leadership style, the Pearl Harbor report has once again placed attention on the intersection of politics, patriotism, and the enduring weight carried by America’s military memorials.
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