Kash Patel stated in 2024 that the mainstream media was the most powerful enemy the United States has ever seen.
Posted by VINCE, Checked
- Sources
- 4 support
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 85%
VINCESep 16, 2026
Multiple sources quote Patel's February 2024 CPAC speech calling the mainstream media 'the most powerful enemy that the United States has ever seen,' and the Schiff and Klobuchar exchanges show him repeatedly declining to disown the quote. The claim is supported, and the cited quote is accurate in substance.
What was said
… I'm going to give you a selection. Some of these are so good. Ready? Why don't we start with Watermelon Head, Old Pencil Neck Adam Schiff? Here he is yesterday, trying to attack Cash Patel, and Cash run in circles around him. Watch. I want to read you a statement that you made about the press. This was in 2024, when you said that the mainstream media was, quote, the most powerful enemy that the United States has ever seen. You stand by that? Your colleagues put that on full display here today. Do you stand by that? I'm answering the question. …
VINCE · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. A First Amendment News piece quotes Patel's February 2024 CPAC remarks: 'take on the most powerful enemy that the United States has ever seen... it's the mainstream media and these people out there in the fake news.'[2]
Supports. An MR Online piece quotes the same CPAC speech of February 23, 2024, with the 'most powerful enemy' language directed at the mainstream media.[3]
Supports. AP reports that Patel has called the media 'the most powerful enemy the United States has ever seen,' independently attributing the phrase to him.[4]
Supports. In the Senate exchange, Schiff read the 2024 statement and Patel answered 'I always do' when asked whether he stood by it; he disputed only the Iran comparison, not the quote itself.[1]
Sources
4 sources: 1 primary, 3 not rated
- 1WATCH: Sen. Schiff Blasts Kash Patel’s Firing of FBI ...schiff.senate.gov · primary source · cited for: supports
- 2Trump’s FBI director pick Kash Patel: A clear and present danger to freedom of the press — First Amendment News 449fire.org · not rated · cited for: supports
- 3Democracy dies in daylight - MR Onlinemronline.org · not rated · cited for: supports
- 4Kash Patel is pushing conspiracies and his brand. He's poised to ...ap.org · not rated · cited for: supports
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post