FBI Director Kash Patel celebrated the ‘Hindu Festival of Lights,’ aka Diwali, with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday (US time). Sharing a video of the festive gathering at the White House, the former podcaster is heard showering the 79-year-old American leader with praises, while several other fellow Indian-origin faces surround him.
Kash Patel’s message to Trump during Oval Office Diwali celebrations
“A real honour to be celebrating Diwali in the Oval Office with @realDonaldTrump,” Patel wrote on X. “Thank you Mr President for your leadership and hospitality as always.” The clip pictures ceremonial decorations lighting up the scene.
“It’s an honour to be a first-generation Indian American whose parents lawfully immigrated to this country and under your leadership so many more millions of Americans are living that dream,” Kash Patel’s address is heard in the video.
“Celebrating here, in the Oval Office on Diwali, which you said, rightfully so, is a triumph of good over evil.” He continued speaking, “It’s an incredible honour, incredibly humbling. Indian Americans around the world, Indians around the world, are thrilled that you are such a profound leader in sharing this diversity with the world, and we can’t thank you enough.”
Trump then responds in kind, “Thank you. Congratulations,” as the clip cuts off.
A real honor to be celebrating Diwali in the Oval Office with @realDonaldTrump – thank you Mr. President for your leadership and hospitality as always pic.twitter.com/tM30WB9Jw6
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) October 21, 2025
Business executives, CEOs join Trump in the Oval Office for Diwali
As has become a norm under the Trump administration, the event hosted by the president welcomed quite a few CEOs. However, unlike previous such gatherings including the likes of Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook and others, the MAGA leader opened the doors of the Oval Office to Indian American officials, who vowed to make massive investments in the US.
In addition to the Indian-origin FBI director being at the scene, others celebrating Diwali with Trump included Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra and IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, among others. The celebratory event involved the traditional lighting of diyas, as Trump described the holiday as a “great festival,” and offered his “warmest wishes to the people of India.” The POTUS also added, “It’s a beautiful term – light over darkness – that’s what it’s all about.”
On the occasion of Diwali, Trump also extended warm wishes to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Noting that he had even spoken to the South Asian leader, he said, “We had a great conversation… he’s a great person, and he’s become a great friend of mine over the years.”
In a prior news release published by the White House website, Trump sent out the following message: “Today, I send my best wishes to every American celebrating Diwali—the ‘Festival of Lights.
“For many Americans, Diwali is a timeless reminder of light’s victory over darkness. It is also a time to bring families and friends together to celebrate community, draw strength from hope, and embrace a lasting spirit of renewal. As millions of citizens light diyas and lanterns, we rejoice in the eternal truth that good will always triumph over evil.
“To every American celebrating Diwali, may this observance bring abiding serenity, prosperity, hope, and peace.”
“To celebrate Diwali here in the Oval Office with the President — a celebration of the triumph of good over evil — is an amazing honor and incredibly humbling.” –@FBIDirectorKash pic.twitter.com/PS7mZ1z6kA
— FBI (@FBI) October 22, 2025
