The presidency of Donald Trump has been defined by a deep skepticism of traditional institutions, particularly those he perceives as hostile to his administration or aligned with his political adversaries. This skepticism has now crystallized into a bold and contentious decision: President-elect Trump’s announcement of Kash Patel as his choice for the next FBI director. Patel, a staunch Trump loyalist and vocal critic of the so-called "deep state," embodies the ideological battle Trump has waged against what he views as entrenched institutional opposition.