Mumbai, November 7:  Donald Trump, the former US president, secured a remarkable comeback by winning a second term on Wednesday, defeating Democratic rival Kamala Harris in a fiercely contested election. Further, Trump had planned to appoint Kashyap Patel as the deputy director of the CIA, signalling his continued influence over key positions in the government.

After his election victory, Trump is likely to start choosing his cabinet and appointing senior officials in the weeks ahead. Jamie Dimon, Scott Bessent, and John Paulson, loyal Trump supporters, are considered strong candidates for prominent roles. Meanwhile, Kashyap 'Kash' Patel is anticipated to take on a significant national security position. Donald Trump Becomes President: Sundar Pichai, Jeff Bezos, Chuck Robbins and Other Top Tech Industry Leaders Congratulate 47th US President.

Who Is Kashyap 'Kash' Patel,?

Kashyap 'Kash' Patel, born in 1980 in Garden City, New York, hails from a family of Gujarati descent. His parents, who had grown up in East Africa, fled Uganda during the 1970s under the regime of Idi Amin and relocated to the United States. Raised in a Hindu household, Patel's senior yearbook quote by Jewish theologian Abraham Joshua Heschel emphasized his strong stance on human rights, saying, "Racism is man's gravest threat - the maximum of hatred for a minimum reason." Patel completed his undergraduate education at the University of Richmond before pursuing a law degree and a Certificate in International Law at University College London. Kamala Harris Congratulates US President-Elect Donald Trump on His Victory, Assures Him of Peaceful Transfer of Power.

Patel’s career trajectory has seen him hold key roles within U.S. national security and defense. He served as Chief of Staff to Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller, where he was integral to several high-profile operations. Prior to this, as Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council, Patel played a major role in the elimination of ISIS and al-Qaeda leaders, including Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Qasem al-Rimi, as well as securing the release of numerous American hostages. His previous positions also included working as National Security Advisor and Senior Counsel for the House Intelligence Committee, where he led investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Despite facing resistance, Trump had intended to appoint Patel as deputy director of the CIA in the final weeks of his presidency. At a 2023 gala, Trump made it clear to Patel that he was gearing up for bigger responsibilities, telling him, "Get ready, Kash. Get ready."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 07, 2024 01:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).