Patel’s mother and father are Indian Gujarati immigrants who moved to Canada in the 1970s from Uganda, East Africa, after facing ethnic repression. They later moved to the U.S., and Patel’s father reportedly landed a job at an aviation firm working as a financial officer.

While many Trump allies have been able to use their ties to the president for media appearances, Patel has also built a personal brand off the president, launching a brand called “Based Apparel” that sells pro-Trump merchandise and “Fight with K$h” products referencing Patel.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has voted along party lines to advance the nomination of Kash Patel for FBI director.