FBI Director Kash Patel’s girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, fired back on social media over the backlash to her scheduled performance at President Donald Trump’s state fair on the National Mall that saw several stars drop out.
Wilkins, a 27-year-old country singer, said Tuesday that she would perform at the Great American State Fair on June 24, calling the invitation a “great honor.”
The fair, set for June 25 through July 10, is being organized by Freedom 250, a public-private partnership created by Trump to mark America’s semiquincentennial. The event is slated to include musical acts, military ensembles, flyovers and other programming, along with a Ferris wheel and a replica of Trump’s planned victory arch.
But the stars-and-stripes spectacle has already lost momentum. Last month, a string of artists originally booked for the fair began distancing themselves — including Young MC, Morris Day and The Commodores — some of whom cited the fair’s overt political tone as the reason for backing out. This month, several blue states have also opted not to take part.
On Tuesday, Sara Higdon, a reporter at the Post Millennial, raised concerns over Wilkins’ planned performance, writing on X: “Does having the FBI director’s girlfriend getting paid by the taxpayers to perform violate federal ethics laws?”
Wilkins, no stranger to controversy surrounding her relationship with Patel, responded with a lengthy post, dismissing what she called “sham accusations.”
“Let’s just get a few things straight, because this is long overdue,” she wrote on X.
“I have been a country music artist for years now,” she wrote. “I was invited to sing this anthem on my own accord, as I have been many other places throughout my career.”
She added that she is not being paid for her appearance and insisted that the “National Mall celebrations” are not funded by taxpayers.
“You would think, as a journalist, this would be something she would know or at least look into,” she griped. “I’m no longer accepting false narratives and total sham accusations that diminish my hard work and earned accomplishments, so please expect this kind of response to continue.”
However, Freedom 250 has received $80 million in public funding, according to NOTUS, which noted that Trump created the group despite Congress having already established a bipartisan commission to plan the semiquincentennial celebrations.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, a Democrat, pointed to the use of taxpayer dollars when announcing her state would not participate.
“This guy tries to get money into his pocket any which way,” she said earlier this month, referring to Trump. “He invited all the states to participate and wants to charge us to go down and put something on his exhibit, whatever he’s creating for Freedom 250, it’s just ridiculous. This is taxpayer money.”
Last year, Wilkins drew scrutiny after MS NOW reported that her boyfriend, the FBI chief, had assigned her an FBI SWAT team to serve as a security detail.
Wilkins is now suing the outlet, accusing it of “knowingly or recklessly” pushing “false allegations.”
She previously sued right-wing influencers over conspiracy theories alleging she is a “honeypot” agent for Israeli intelligence.
Patel himself has faced a steady stream of controversy during his tenure, including over mass firings at the bureau and his use of a government plane for private travel. He has repeatedly brushed off criticism and said he remains focused on his work.
