Overview
- Patel posted on X on Monday wishing a Happy Diwali and highlighting the festival's theme of good triumphing over evil.
- The post drew nearly 3,000 comments, with many attacking his faith and declaring the United States a Christian nation, according to the reports.
- Some replies included calls to deport him or Hindus broadly and messages telling him to "go back," as documented by Raw Story and The New Republic.
- Patel is the first Indian-American to lead the FBI and previously took his oath on the Bhagavad Gita, and coverage frames the reaction as part of broader tensions over representation and religion.
- The White House issued a Diwali message, and President Trump is scheduled to host a Diwali event at the White House at 4 p.m. ET.