Acting FBI director retires after Wray departure, minutes before Trump sworn in

Paul Abbate, the acting director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, made headlines when he reportedly retired just minutes before Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president. This move came shortly after former FBI Director Christopher Wray announced his resignation, which went into effect on Sunday, paving the way for Abbate to take the helm.

According to the New York Times, Abbate’s departure from the bureau took effect at noon ET on Monday, coinciding with Trump’s oath of office at the U.S. Capitol. It remains unclear who will replace Abbate as the acting FBI director.

In an internal email on Monday, Abbate expressed his confidence in the FBI team to continue their mission of protecting the American people and upholding the Constitution. Abbate, who was selected as deputy FBI director by Wray in 2021, had extended his length of service and was now retiring at the mandatory age of 57 for some FBI agents.

The relationship between Trump and the FBI had soured over the years, with the former president decrying the “weaponization” of the Justice Department during his 2024 presidential campaign. Trump had appointed Kash Patel to lead the FBI, but Patel’s Senate confirmation hearing had not been scheduled at the time of Abbate’s retirement.

During his inauguration speech, Trump vowed to rebalance the scales of justice and put an end to what he perceived as the unfair weaponization of the Justice Department and government. This marked a new chapter for the FBI under Patel’s leadership.

Fox News Digital reached out to the FBI for comment on Abbate’s retirement and the future of the bureau under new leadership.

Danielle Wallace is a breaking news and politics reporter at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on X: @danimwallace.