US EditionThe Story Behind FBI Director Kash Patel's Seemingly Random 'Valhalla' Reference
FBI Director Kash Patel honored slain activist Charlie Kirk using a Norse mythology phrase during a Utah press conference amid mixed public reactions.
- During a September 12, 2025 press conference in Utah announcing the arrest of Charlie Kirk's suspected killer, FBI Director Kash Patel honored the right-wing activist with a personal farewell.
- Patel's farewell included the phrase, "We have the watch, and I'll see you in Valhalla," referencing a Norse afterlife unfamiliar to both Patel’s Hindu and Kirk’s Christian faiths.
- This invocation drew widespread criticism online due to its pagan warrior connotations, which contradict the religious beliefs of both men and are often co-opted by white supremacists.
- The FBI received over 7,000 digital tips on the case—its largest influx since the Boston Marathon bombing—and Kirk’s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, was turned in by his father.
- Patel's remark, perceived as an expression of solidarity, sparked debate about appropriateness and highlighted tensions within the FBI's handling of the investigation and public messaging.
14 Articles
14 Articles
The story behind FBI Director Kash Patel's seemingly random 'Valhalla' reference
In a press conference on Sept. 12, 2025, FBI Director Kash Patel announced the capture and arrest of Tyler Robinson, the alleged gunman behind the shooting death of right-wing podcaster Charlie Kirk. After some backslapping and grandstanding with Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Patel ended his part of the announcement with a tribute to Kirk, one that left many viewers perplexed. “Lastly, to my friend Charlie Kirk, rest now, brother,” Patel said. “We …
The reference made by Kash Patel is to the heavenly abode where the souls of the brave warriors who died in battle are believed to be accepted, received by Odin: "Now rest, brother, we wake up and meet in Valhalla."
The director of the FBI, appointed by Donald Trump a few months ago, is critical within his own camp, or his competence is questioned.
Why Kash Patel's see you in Valhalla message to Charlie Kirk sparked criticism?
FBI director Kash Patel paid tribute to his friend and the US President Donald Trump’s confidant, Charlie Kirk. While bidding an emotional farewell at the press conference of the late Conservative, Patel asserted, “Rest now, brother. We have the watch, and I’ll see you in Valhalla."
After the arrest of a suspect in the Charlie Kirk murder case, FBI director Kash Patel causes frowns. In an emotional statement, he passes the killed influencer with a mythical greeting. Users on social networks react with ridicule.
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