A new explanation has surfaced for why FBI Director Kash Patel showed up at a US Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday afternoon wearing a tie featuring the logo of Liverpool, the Premier League champions. A photo of the 45-year-old quickly spread on social media after his appearance in Washington, D.C.
Patel attended the hearing to answer questions on several topics, including the ongoing probe into the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and his firing of longtime staff members involved in investigations of the January 6 Capitol riots. The session became heated, with Patel engaging in a loud argument with Senators Cory Booker and Adam Schiff.
Despite the serious issues discussed, many people focused on Patel’s choice of tie. Wearing a football club crest on such an occasion drew criticism online, with some calling it “very unprofessional.”
The Guardian’s latest report revealed that Patel had been seen wearing Liverpool ties on at least two previous occasions. The first was on December 12, 2024, when he visited lawmakers on Capitol Hill shortly after Donald Trump’s election win that year. At that time, Patel was rumored to be part of the administration.
The second time was about five months later, on April 9, 2025, during a press conference announcing the arrest of drug traffickers. By then, Patel had officially become FBI director.
The report also noted that owning several Liverpool ties suggests his wearing them isn’t a coincidence. In fact, Patel himself posted on social media in April confirming his support for Liverpool, despite some media speculation that he had kept his fandom private. He wrote:
“#YNWA… Liverpool Premier League champs. Our good luck tie.”
Interestingly, Patel’s football allegiance contrasts with his political stance. As a leading US law enforcement figure and public representative of a second Trump administration known for authoritarian tactics, Patel’s views seem at odds with the spirit of Liverpool Football Club.
Liverpool is a city rooted in working-class history and traditionally linked to left-wing politics. Legendary manager Bill Shankly once 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 suffered greatly under Conservative governments in the 1970s and 80s, especially under Margaret Thatcher, whose policies neglected northern England. The red half of Merseyside also spent years fighting for justice over the 1989 Hillsborough disaster and battling biased media coverage—events that deepened the community’s sense of alienation from the establishment and fostered a belief among locals that Scousers stand apart from the rest of the country. Whether red or blue, they share a conviction in the power of the people.
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