Bannon Claims Trump Will Appoint Kash Patel As New FBI Director After January 20

A day after NBC News reported that Christopher Wray is preparing for the possibility of being replaced as FBI director, former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon has revealed that President-elect Donald Trump's adviser Kash Patel will likely be appointed as the new head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the wake of January 20.

According to Bannon, the present chief may resign or be asked to leave his position. Christopher Wray, who was recently endorsed by Chris Christie after representing him in an investigation into the closing of the George Washington Bridge, is preparing for a possibility that he will no longer be leading the FBI.

When Trump appointed Wray as director in June 2017, he lavished praise on him, referring to him as "an impeccably qualified individual and model of integrity". However, just like in the recent case of CIA being headed by ultra-conservative John Ratcliffe who was himself nominated after former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon recommended him.

Bannon's claim suggests that Trump has lost confidence in Wray, despite having praised him when appointed as director. The tension between Wray and Trump had been building over several years, with the FBI head rebelling against certain administrations policies and methods which contradicted by some of Trumps own ideologies - particularly regarding on how to approach political adversaries.

Wray was recently criticized by President-elector's son for allegedly doing everything in his power "to stop" president-elect Donald Trump.  Trump is also said to be eager to label antifa as a terror group, which contradicts his father-in-law.