FBI director orders agents to engage hostile X account, public affairs chief declines

Freedom of Information Act disclosures reveal a text exchange in which FBI Director Kash Patel instructed Assistant Director for Public Affairs Ben Williamson to locate an X account called “Ifindretards” and engage with it continuously. Patel said the post’s view count warranted a reply to showcase the bureau’s “record year results” and increase viewership. Williamson noted that the metric referred to views rather than engagements and ultimately refused to carry out the request. The exchange illustrates internal disagreement over allocating agency effort to a social‑media interaction.