FBI Director Kash Patel is dismissing criticism for visiting the U.S. men's hockey team's locker room after their gold medal victory in Italy, saying he was invited. 

"For the very concerned media - yes, I love America and was extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys - Greatest country on earth and greatest sport on earth," Patel posted on X on Sunday.

Patel, who attended the Olympic final against Canada was seen on video on Team USA men's locker room after the win drinking a beer and banging on a table, before forward Matthew Tkachuk put his gold medal around Patel. The group sang “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” by the late Toby Keith amid the celebration.

Some of the criticism toward Patel is that he was in Italy when she should have been at home, amid the possibility the U.S. will attack Iran, which could result in domestic counter-terror attacks. 

Concerns about the Justice Department's handling of the so-called Epstein files and an immigration crackdown in the U.S. that has resulted in the death of two Minnesota residents are also of national concern.  

Patel, who is a hockey fan and plays the sport recreationally, has said he attended the Olympics after official meetings in Italy. 

"Great visit with the Milan Joint Operations Center, a 24/7 interagency operation with international partners to support the Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games," Patel posted on X on Saturday. "The JOC is focused on protecting the US athletes, 250,000 US citizens who traveled to Milan for the games, as well as the private sector companies we share information with every day.

"Nearly 100 US Government personnel have been surged to support the Olympics since the start of 2026 - with lessons we’ll take into the FIFA World Cup later this summer. Thank you to Consul General Benning and the entire US Consulate Milan team for hosting - as well as DSS, FBI CIRG, and President Trump’s interagency teams for working around the clock to secure this incredible event."