Support for FBI Director Kash Patel has slipped among Republicans, according to Quinnipiac University polling released this week.
A new poll finds 67 percent of Republicans approve of Patel’s handling of the FBI, while 18 percent disapprove—marking a notable change from September 2025, when approval stood at 70 percent and disapproval at just 10 percent.
Newsweek contacted the FBI for comment on Thursday morning.
Key Points
- Republican approval of Patel has dipped slightly, from 70 percent to 67 percent
- Disapproval has risen more sharply, from 10 percent to 18 percent
- Net approval among Republicans has fallen from +60 to +49
- Patel records the weakest approval rating among top Trump administration officials in the Quinnipiac poll
- The shift comes as scrutiny of Patel’s conduct in office has intensified
Trend Driven By Rising Disapproval
Republican support for Patel has softened since last fall, with the overall decline in his standing largely reflecting a buildup in disapproval rather than a sharp drop in core backing.
The chart above illustrates how that shift has played out over time.
Approval has edged down only slightly, but disapproval has risen more quickly, narrowing Patel’s advantage and pushing his net rating down by 11 points.
That change leaves Patel with a weaker cushion among Republican voters than he had just months ago, even as a clear majority continues to approve of his performance.
Early movement within Republican ranks can be an important signal in political polling, especially for figures whose support has typically been stable.
It also brings Patel closer to the approval levels of other administration officials, among whom he now ranks lower.
Why It Matters
Polling on Patel is relatively rare, making shifts like this more significant when they do appear.
The movement also comes as Patel faces increased scrutiny over his handling of the role, including an Associated Press report that, during an official trip to Hawaii, he joined a “VIP snorkel” excursion around the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor—a restricted memorial site—prompting criticism from a Marine veteran who described it as inappropriate for “hallowed ground”.
He has also faced controversy over footage of him celebrating with the U.S. men’s ice hockey team after their Olympic win and allegations about his professional conduct reported by The Atlantic, which he has denied and challenged in court.
The FBI has rejected suggestions of wrongdoing, saying the Pearl Harbor visit was part of official interagency engagement and “not a party,” while the Navy described such visits as routine for senior officials.
What To Know
The latest Quinnipiac University poll surveyed 1,106 self-identified registered voters nationwide between May 14 and May 18, 2026, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points, including the design effect.
The survey also included a broader sample of 1,316 adults, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.
Within that sample, 67 percent of Republicans said they approve of the way Patel is handling his job as FBI director, compared with 18 percent who disapprove and 15 percent who did not offer an opinion.
When Quinnipiac last asked the same question in September 2025, 1,276 self-identified registered voters were surveyed between September 18 and September 21, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.
At that point, Patel’s standing among Republicans was stronger: 70 percent approved, while just 10 percent disapproved.
Taken together, the two polls point to a clear pattern: approval has edged down slightly over time, but disapproval has risen more quickly—resulting in a marked drop in Patel’s net rating among Republican voters.
Weakest Showing Among Trump Officials
Patel posts the weakest approval ratings among the senior Trump administration figures tested in the Quinnipiac poll.
Across all registered voters, 30 percent approve of Patel’s performance, compared with 56 percent who disapprove—a lower approval and higher disapproval share than his peers.
By comparison, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stands at 40 percent approval and 46 percent disapproval, Vice President J.D. Vance at 39 percent approval and 54 percent disapproval, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at 34 percent approval and 55 percent disapproval.
The same pattern holds within the Republican base.
Patel’s 67 percent approval trails Rubio at 85 percent, Vance at 83 percent and Hegseth at 77 percent, placing him at the bottom of the group even among core GOP voters.
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