During the opening ceremony for the Great American State Fair, FBI Director Kash Patel’s girlfriend gave a performance to the crowd in Washington DC.
The moment saw Alexis Wilkins perform the National Anthem during the event’s major kick off celebration in DC. The 27-year-old girlfriend of Patel sported a white pantsuit and long straight hair as she took the stage. After receiving lots of hate and backlash, fans were stunned when they actually enjoyed the vocals.
One person wrote on X, “Now this is beautiful.” “Beautifully sung,” another wrote, as a third said, “She nailed it.” One simply wrote, “She’s not the best singer, but certainly not the worst.” She was announced as a performer after several allegedly dropped out.
Others were more critical. One said, “I’ve seen better performances at minor league ballparks.” “You can hear a better rendition at any high school ball game,” someone else added, with another saying, “This is completely cringe to watch.”
In the lead-up to her performance, Wilkins publicly acknowledged the significance of the moment, writing on X, “What a great honor to be a part of the 250th birthday of this great nation.”
Wilkins performs at the State Fair kick off ceremony
The post included a photo of her singing and quickly circulated among supporters and critics alike as anticipation built for the event.
Some critics questioned the optics of her participation, particularly given her relationship with Patel. Among them was Post Millennial reporter Sara Higdon, who raised concerns on social media, writing, “Does having the FBI director’s girlfriend getting paid by the taxpayers to perform violate federal ethics law?”
Wilkins directly addressed the criticism in a series of posts, pushing back firmly against what she described as misinformation.
Wilkins shocked viewers as she sang the National Anthem
She clarified that the event was not taxpayer funded and emphasized that her invitation to perform was based on her professional background rather than her personal life.
“I have been a country music artist for years now. I have had a successful career in both music and commentary/strategy,” she wrote in a lengthy response.
“People don’t get to negate that for clicks or headlines. I was invited to sing this anthem on my own accord, as I have been many other places throughout my career.”
FBI Director Kash Patel, his girlfriend Alexis Wilkins, and President Donald Trump(Image: @alexiswilkins/Instagram)
She also made clear that she was not being compensated for the performance, adding, “I’m no longer accepting false narratives and total sham accusations that diminish my hard work and earned accomplishments, so please expect this kind of response to continue.”
The discussion surrounding Wilkins came amid backlash for the event itself. The Great American State Fair, a 16-day festival marking the nation’s milestone anniversary, had already faced changes to its entertainment lineup. Several artists, including Martina McBride and Young MC, withdrew from the event citing partisan concerns.
In response, Donald Trump announced he would headline the opening night with what he described as a “rally to America,” positioning it as the centerpiece of the kickoff celebration.