FBI Director Kash Patel is engaged to his longtime girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins, the couple announced Oct. 4.
"Went and got the law involved," Wilkins, 27, captioned a photo on social media of her alongside Patel with a ring on her left hand.
Patel, 46, reshared the post on his personal X account with heart and ring emojis.
The couple first met in late 2022 and began dating a few months later, they said in a December 2025 podcast appearance.
The pair's relationship has garnered attention and criticism alike over Patel's apparent use of government resources related to his now-fiancée, actions he has defended.
USA TODAY reached out to the FBI and a representative for Wilkins for comment.
FBI Director Kash Patel announces engagement. Who is Alexis Wilkins?
Patel and Wilkins met at an event in Nashville at singer
John Rich's house, they said in a December 2025 episode of "The Katie Miller Podcast."
They began a long-distance relationship as Patel lived in Las Vegas while Wilkins lived in Nashville at the time, they said.
"When I met him, I just liked that he was so, so honest. He's exactly who he is all the time," Wilkins said on a July 2025 episode of "The Megyn Kelly Show."
Wilkins, a Christian from an Armenian family, grew up primarily in Arkansas and later attended Belmont University, she said on the podcasts. She has performed at several politically conservative events, including singing the national anthem at the National Religious Broadcasters summit in Nashville in February.
She has been a visible presence at several events tied to the Trump administration, from accompanying Patel at his swearing-in ceremony to performing at a Freedom 250 event in June.
Kash Patel has defended personal trips to see now-fiancée Alexis Wilkins
Patel has drawn scrutiny over his personal travels, including trips to see Wilkins, on an agency jet.
The FBI director is required to use government aircraft for all his travel, including personal trips.
He told senators earlier this year that he has reimbursed all personal travel and expenses in line with federal rules.
In response to reports about his traveling, Patel defended Wilkins in a November 2025 post on X.
"The disgustingly baseless attacks against Alexis — a true patriot and the woman I’m proud to call my partner in life — are beyond pathetic," he wrote. "She is a rock-solid conservative and a country music sensation who has done more for this nation than most will in ten lifetimes. I’m so blessed she’s in my life."
— Kash Patel (@Kash_Patel) October 4, 2026
Ben Williamson, a FBI spokesperson, also spoke out about the reports in an October 2025 post on X, writing, "Kash himself has significantly limited personal travel - but he’s allowed to take personal time on occasion to see family, friends or his longtime girlfriend. He doesn’t do it often."
Patel has also reportedly allocated security resources for Wilkins. MS NOW reported in November 2025 that Wilkins had been assigned a FBI security detail, comprised of agents typically assigned to a SWAT team, to protect her from threats. A FBI spokesperson confirmed Wilkins had a security detail in a statement to The Hill at the time.
On Miller's podcast, Patel said Wilkins has "been subject to multiple death threats" that officials were investigating.
"We're not going to treat Alexis any different under law enforcement purposes just because I'm the director of the FBI," he said. "Career investigators make the calls, they call the balls and strikes, they do the threat assessments, and they decide if and when she needs protection."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: FBI Director Kash Patel, singer Alexis Wilkins announce engagement
