President Trump is rallying behind Kash Patel as Trump's MAGA base fractures over the FBI chief's handling of the investigation into Charlie Kirk's assassination.

Why it matters: Trump's support is crucial for any administration official hoping to keep their job — and the president's backing has been enough to satisfy some MAGA backers, despite Patel's missteps early in the Kirk investigation. • But others in the MAGA movement were alarmed by Patel's social media announcement hours after the shooting that a "subject" was "in custody," only to have investigators release that person. • That led some in MAGA to question whether Patel was capable of leading the Kirk investigation, much less the crackdowns on political violence the movement desires.

What they're saying: Patel "performed t

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