Kash Patel’s Girlfriend Hits Back at Ethics Claims as She Joins the Lineup for a Trump-Led Celebration That Most Original Performers Abandoned
‘Great honor.’
FBI Director Kash Patel’s girlfriend Alexis Wilkins has stepped into the spotlight at the Great American State Fair, but not everyone is cheering. The 27-year-old country singer sang the national anthem at the event celebrating America’s 250th birthday after nearly every other original act bailed over its ties to President Donald Trump. Wilkins isn’t backing down from the backlash, though.
She fired back at critics on X, calling their accusations “false narratives” and defending her career as entirely self-made, according to PEOPLE. The event, running from June 25 through July 10 on the National Mall, was supposed to feature a star-studded lineup. Instead, it’s down to just two original performers after names like Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, and Milli Vanilli’s Fab Morvan dropped out. The reason? Trump’s involvement.
Michaels, for example, said the event had “evolved into something much more divisive” than what he signed up for, adding that concerns about safety – including “unfounded and unforgivable” threats – played a role in his decision. Young MC and McBride echoed those concerns, calling the event “misleading” and claiming they were never told about the political ties.
Wilkins, however, sees things differently
In a lengthy post on X, she laid out her case, starting with her career. “I have been a country music artist for years now,” she wrote. “I have had a successful career in both music and commentary/strategy. People don’t get to negate that for clicks or headlines.”
She made it clear she wasn’t just some random pick. She said she was invited to sing the national anthem “on my own accord,” just like she has at other events throughout her career. The implication? She’s not riding anyone’s coattails, least of all the FBI Director’s.
Money was another sticking point. Critics accused her of getting paid by taxpayers, but Wilkins shut that down fast. “I am not accepting payment for this great honor,” she wrote. She also took a swipe at journalists, pointing out that the Freedom 250 celebration is funded through a fundraising arm, not taxpayer dollars.
“You would think, as a journalist, this would be something she would know or at least look into,” she added. Wilkins was responding to a post by Sara Higdon. The message was clear: do your homework before spreading misinformation. Higdon did respond with another post saying, “Ok so you’re not going to take money from it, but you do know that Congress allocated $100 million for the Freedom 250 event, right?”
Wilkins didn’t stop there. She doubled down on her frustration with the “sham accusations” aimed at her, promising more pushback if the criticism keeps coming. “I’m no longer accepting false narratives and total sham accusations that diminish my hard work and earned accomplishments,” she concluded. It’s a bold stance, especially given the controversy swirling around her relationship with Patel, the FBI director.
Patel’s name has been in the headlines for months
And not always for the right reasons. In November 2025, he faced backlash for using SWAT team members as security for Wilkins, with critics calling it an abuse of power. Then, in December, he allegedly yelled at an agent on Wilkins’ security team to drive her friend home, a claim he denied as “made up and did not happen.”
The drama didn’t end there. In April, The New York Times reported that one of its reporters, Elizabeth Williamson, was investigated by the FBI for potential stalking violations after writing about Wilkins. The Times called it a “blatant violation” of First Amendment rights, while the FBI insisted the investigation was tied to a death threat case and that no further action was taken against Williamson.
Wilkins frames her participation as a personal and professional choice, not a political one
Wilkins’ decision to perform at the Great American State Fair puts her squarely in the middle of this political and ethical storm. While other artists walked away, she’s leaning in, framing her participation as a personal and professional choice rather than a political statement. Whether that’ll be enough to quiet the critics remains to be seen.
The event itself is shaping up to be a flashpoint. With Trump headlining and most of the original performers gone, it’s hard to ignore the political undertones. But Wilkins isn’t shying away from the controversy. If anything, she’s embracing it, using her platform to push back against what she sees as unfair attacks. Whether you agree with her or not, one thing’s for sure: this isn’t the last we’ll hear from her.
(Featured image: Gage Skidmore)
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