In his 2023 book Government Gangsters, Kash Patel, the president's nominee for FBI director, describes a "deep state" conspiracy against Donald Trump that

While many Trump allies have been able to use their ties to the president for media appearances, Patel has also built a personal brand off the president, launching a brand called “Based Apparel” that sells pro-Trump merchandise and “Fight with K$h” products referencing Patel.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines on Thursday to advance the nomination of Kash Patel, Donald Trump's pick for FBI director, pushing past Democratic concerns that he would operate as a loyalist for the president and target perceived adversaries of the White House.