During the call, Patel said that
Dan Bongino, a far-right podcaster whom Trump tapped to be the FBI's deputy director, is a huge UFC fan and that he inspired Patel to try the training, one of the people briefed on the call said. Patel added that he thinks it is great, and is exploring a partnership between the FBI and the UFC.
"There is training the FBI receives in physical altercations. If Kash Patel believed that should be beefed up, the answer is not to go to Donald Trump's best friend who runs the UFC," a former Justice Department official said, when asked about Patel's proposal.
"It's clearly motivated by the glitz and glamour show, and Trump's friend," said the official, who was granted anonymity out of concern about possible retribution.
It was not immediately clear how any partnership would work.