A reason has now emerged for why FBI director Kash Patel appeared at a US Senate judiciary committee hearing on Tuesday afternoon wearing a tie emblazoned with the logo of Premier League champions Liverpool. A photo of the 45-year-old quickly circulated on social media following his appearance in Washington, D.C.
Patel was there to face questions on a number of issues – including the ongoing investigation into the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, as well as his dismissal of longtime employees involved in inquiries into the January 6 Capitol attacks. Tensions flared when he clashed in a shouting match with senators Cory Booker and Adam Schiff.
But while weighty matters were being debated, many couldn’t help but focus on the FBI director’s choice of attire. His decision to wear a tie featuring a football crest drew criticism online, with some calling it “very unprofessional.” See below:
Why FBI Director Was Spotted Wearing Liverpool Tie
In their most recent article, the Guardian found that he had previously been photographed wearing Liverpool ties on at least two separate occasions. The first, on 12 December 2024, came when Patel was visiting various lawmakers on Capitol Hill after Donald Trump’s victory in that year’s election, with Patel at the time being rumored to be a part of the administration.
The second came about five months later, on 9 April 2025, at a press event touting the US authorities’ capture of narcotics. By that time, Patel had been confirmed as director of the FBI.
But while the report also suggested that “his apparent ownership of multiple Liverpool ties would indicate that his wearing of them is not a fluke,” a social media post from Patel himself back in April proves that he has publicly declared his support for Liverpool, even despite some confusion among various media outlets that he had kept his admiration under wraps. He wrote (see his post below):
“#YNWA… Liverpool Premier League champs. Our good luck tie.”
There is some contrast between Patel’s choice of football team and his political views. As one of the US’s foremost law enforcement officers, Patel has become a public face of a second Trump administration – one that has used authoritarian tactics to shape multiple areas of American public life.
Liverpool, by contrast, is a city built on deep working-class roots and long associated with left-wing politics. Legendary manager Bill Shankly captured its spirit best when he said:
“I believe the only way to live and to be truly successful is by collective effort, with everyone working for each other, everyone helping each other, and everyone having a share of the rewards at the end of the day. That might be asking a lot, but it’s the way I see football and the way I see life.”
The city itself was brought to its knees during successive Conservative premierships, most notably under Margaret Thatcher in the 70s and 80s, whose policies reflected a near-total neglect of northern England.
Meanwhile, the red half of Merseyside spent decades fighting the injustices of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster and the media’s reporting of it – struggles that again underscored the community’s sense of disenfranchisement from those in charge, leading them to believe that Scousers are a separate entity from the rest of the country – and, together, red or blue, they believe in the power of the people.