In a bold move that’s got Washington buzzing, FBI Director Kash Patel has slammed the door shut on a long-standing partnership between the FBI and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), citing concerns over the organization’s recent actions, as Fox News reports.
This decision, which reverses a relationship forged under former Director James Comey, comes hot on the heels of public outcry over the ADL’s labeling of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), founded by the late Charlie Kirk, as an extremist group, leading to the scrapping of the ADL’s controversial glossary on hate and extremism.
The ties between the FBI and ADL stretch back to Comey’s tenure, when he publicly praised the organization at a national summit in Washington, D.C., on May 8, 2017.
Back then, Comey didn’t hold back, calling his admiration a virtual “love letter” to the ADL and emphasizing shared goals of fairness and equality.
“Three years later, I can say, from the perspective of the FBI, we’re still in love with you,” Comey declared in 2017, a sentiment that feels like ancient history under Patel’s watch. But was this partnership ever about law enforcement, or just a cozy alignment with a group pushing its own agenda?
Fast forward to today, and the ADL’s shine has dimmed, especially after it tagged TPUSA as having connections to right-wing extremists and other unsavory figures in its now-defunct “Glossary of Extremism and Hate.”
This categorization sparked a firestorm, with critics like Elon Musk and Republican lawmakers accusing the ADL of overreach and bias in its definitions.
Musk didn’t mince words on X, blasting the ADL for targeting TPUSA instead of focusing on real threats, especially in light of Charlie Kirk’s tragic assassination nearly three weeks before the glossary controversy erupted. It’s a bitter pill to swallow when a group meant to fight hate seems to be picking political enemies.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., echoed this frustration on X, suggesting the ADL slaps the “hate group” label on anyone who disagrees with them—a critique that cuts to the heart of why many conservatives feel targeted by such organizations.
Under mounting pressure, the ADL pulled the plug on its entire glossary on a recent Tuesday, admitting that many entries were outdated or misused.
The organization tried to spin the retirement as a refocus on fighting antisemitism and hate in “impactful ways,” but skeptics might see it as damage control after a major misstep. After all, when your definitions are weaponized against mainstream conservative groups, credibility takes a hit.
Enter Kash Patel, who made it clear during his testimony before the House Judiciary Committee on September 17, 2025, that he’s steering the FBI in a new direction, especially after facing tough questions on high-profile cases like Kirk’s assassination.
Patel didn’t just cut ties with the ADL—he torched the bridge, telling Fox News Digital that Comey’s era of cozying up to the group endangered Americans through activism masquerading as counterterrorism.
His decision reflects a broader pushback against what many on the right see as progressive overreach in labeling political opponents as extremists, a trend that’s alienated even moderates. While the ADL’s mission to combat hate is noble, its methods have raised eyebrows, and Patel’s move signals the FBI won’t be part of that game anymore.
As the dust settles, the ADL has yet to respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital, leaving questions about how it will rebuild trust after this public relations debacle. For now, Patel’s FBI is charting a course free from partnerships that blur the line between law enforcement and ideological crusades—a stance that’s likely to resonate with those weary of woke oversteps in government.
