FBI Director Kash Patel's girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, delivered a stirring rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner on Thursday night at the 2026 Independent Women's Forum gala in Washington, D.C., attended by several of Patel's Trump administration allies.
The 27-year-old aspiring country singer performed under the soft glow of chandeliers during a lavish dinner, with images of American flags flapping in the breeze displayed on screens behind her.
The Independent Women's Forum is a conservative, non-profit organization focused on economic policy issues of concern to women. This year's event honored Donald Trump's Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who received the Barbara K. Olson Woman of Valor award.
President Trump sent a taped message paying tribute to Wiles, calling her 'amazing' and expressing his 'tremendous gratitude for her friendship, loyalty and support every single day.'
Patel, 45, watched as his girlfriend of over three years sang the national anthem. Tickets and sponsorships for the event, which promoted Wilkins as the evening's entertainment, ranged from $500 to $500,000.
Recent Security Scare
The gala marked one of Wilkins' first public appearances since the White House Correspondents' Dinner, which was disrupted by an attempted shooting. Last week, Wilkins spoke to the Daily Mail about the moment Patel forced her to hide under a table during the chaotic event.
Describing the 'surreal' experience, Wilkins recalled huddling on the floor while security scrambled to secure the Washington Hilton ballroom. 'He kept telling me to get down,' she said of Patel. 'He was in his chair, covering me, had me on the ground. He was firmly keeping me under the table.'
As the alarm was raised at 8:35 pm, Wilkins says Patel immediately switched from dinner guest to protector. Her first thought was to text her mother: 'Shots fired, we're okay.' Her mother responded saying she felt sick, later describing it as the 'longest minute of her life.'
Once the room was partially cleared, Wilkins saw Patel transition into 'complete work mode,' using his iPhone to organize matters. She dismissed speculation that he was using a personal phone, stating all calls were work-related.
Dispute with New York Times
Wilkins criticized the New York Times for what she called a 'sick' attempt to misrepresent her behavior during the crisis. The newspaper published and later edited an account claiming she was seen in a distraught state, holding hands with a man who was not Patel.
'I was only ever holding Kash's hand; anything to suggest otherwise is false,' Wilkins asserted. She called the reporting 'salacious' and a 'weird refusal to fully admit they were wrong.' A Times spokesperson stood by their reporting, stating a journalist accurately reported that Wilkins sheltered in a room while holding a security officer's hand, and the copy was updated for context.
Security Threats
The incident highlighted 'very real security threats' facing administration figures and those close to them. Wilkins revealed that a man arrested in Boston cited a New York Times article about her as motivation for sending a threat. Alden Welch Ruml, 26, was arrested in March for sending a threatening email, and Wilkins says there have been dozens of other threats.
She has been provided a full-time security detail of FBI SWAT team members. 'It's not something you invite into your life, to have to worry about your safety, especially when I don't have a job in the administration,' she said.
Reflecting on the planned redo of the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Wilkins joked, 'I hope that George Santos doesn't roast me... I need to be allowed to wear the same dress again.'
