The MAGA culture war turned ugly Monday night when FBI Director Kash Patel lit a symbolic candle and found himself engulfed in a firestorm of hate.
Patel, the first Indian-American to lead the FBI, took to X (formerly Twitter) to wish followers a “Happy Diwali – celebrating the Festival of Lights around the world, as good triumphs over evil.” That was enough to spark a racist meltdown from corners of the far-right that once embraced him.
Patel, the first Indian-American to lead the FBI, quickly became the target of fury from MAGA influencers and supporters who viewed the Diwali message as a betrayal of “American values.”
“Do you see the problem yet?” wrote Jeremy Carl, a political commentator who says he’s “on the front lines in a war against secularism.” He reposted Patel’s message as if it were a smoking gun.
Others dropped the dog whistles and went straight for the bullhorns.
“This is a Christian Nation. Check your foreigner stuff at the gate,” wrote John McGlone, who describes himself as an “unapologetic Christian American.”
“Not compatible with American tradition,” added Johnny Blacksmith, whose bio brags he was “right wing before it was cool.”
Marine veteran Jim Eagle responded with a blunt “Shut the hell up,” paired with a gif of Terry O’Quinn’s character John Locke from Lost.
And then came the open calls to leave the country.
“Go back,” wrote Utah pastor Ben Garrett.
“Go back home and worship your sand demons. Get out of my country,” added podcaster Joel Webbon.
“What the hell is this? This is AMERICA. Not India,” posted Florida Christian Chris Nelson.
“Deport,” X user Scott Hambrick concluded.
It wasn’t a fringe pile-on — many of the voices echoing this outrage are prominent in far-right Christian nationalist circles. For years, Patel has been elevated by MAGA media and Trump-world loyalists as a symbol of diversity within the movement. But his public celebration of a major Hindu holiday was apparently a step too far.
Despite being born in New York to Indian parents and rising through the ranks of U.S. intelligence and law enforcement, Patel was effectively told to “go back” — simply for honoring a tradition millions of Americans celebrate every year.
The irony? Diwali marks the triumph of light over darkness.
And on this night, a celebration of good prevailing over evil pulled the mask off an undercurrent of hate many still pretend doesn’t exist.
