Kash Patel's country music star girlfriend fires back at critics as she's tapped to sing at Trump's freedom rally

By JON MICHAEL RAASCH, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT Published: 22:20, 24 June 2026 | Updated: 22:20, 24 June 2026 FBI Director Kash Patel's younger country music star girlfriend is fighting allegations that she booked a big gig because of her beau.  Alexis Wilkins, 27, fought back against claims that she was only booked as a 'feature performer' for the grand opening of the Great American State Fair on the National Mall because of her connections to the President and her relationship with Patel,  a boyfriend nearly 20 years her senior. Wilkins was announced as a performer this week and has since batted away claims that she was being paid with taxpayer funds to step in for the Trump-aligned Freedom 250 after hemorrhaging its concert lineup.  'I was invited to sing this anthem on my own accord, as I have been many other places throughout my career,' Wilkins recently wrote on social media in response to a critic. 'I am not accepting payment for this great honor.'  The event stirred great controversy earlier this year after nearly all the musical acts originally booked by event organizer Freedom 250 dropped out of the lineup.  Within days of the original lineup being announced, including stars like Bret Michaels, The Commodores, Martina McBride and more, nearly all withdrew from the fair.  Many of the performers dropped out because of Freedom 250's ties to the Trump administration. The group has worked on various initiatives to celebrate the nation's birthday. President Donald Trump, seeing the many cancellations, announced that he would step in and deliver remarks at the opening ceremony for the Great American State Fair.  'I get to sing the national anthem on the opening of our nation's 250th birthday, and that in and of itself, no matter the administration, should be really a universal honor,' Wilkins told the Daily Mail. 'So I'm really looking forward to doing it, of course, very honored that I was asked.' Country music singer Alexis Wilkins has been dating FBI Director Kash Patel for about three years  Wilkins was booked to sing at the Great American State Fair opening ceremony on Wednesday, but many critics accused her of getting the gig, in part, because of her boyfriend. Others accused her of taking taxpayer money, though she clarified she's not getting paid for the gig Wilkins has been a singer for many years and averages around 5,600 monthly listeners on Spotify In a defiant tone, the 27-year-old country music singer said she's been going after those who sow rumors about her.  'I am happy to correct the narrative when it gets completely off the rails,' she said in a phone call.  'I have been a country music artist for years now. I have had a successful career in both music and commentary/strategy. People don't get to negate that for clicks or headlines.' Wilkins and Patel have frequently been in the news during Trump's second term.  Namely, the two have been reported to use Patel's government-provided jet to travel around together, which the FBI has defended, noting the director must fly on the jet due to security precautions.  Online critics have also baselessly accused Wilkins of being a 'honeypot,' to which she has responded with lawsuits.  Kyle M Seraphin is one of the many online voices who has pushed a 'honey pot' Israeli spy narrative about Wilkins. She has since sued Serpahin for $5 million, claiming defamation. Speaking previously to the Daily Mail, she denied the allegations, noting how, during two of the three years she's been dating Patel, he was not the FBI boss.  Preparation work for the Freedom 250 Great American State Fair continues on the National Mall. The fair will fill the mall with 150 exhibits from all 50 states and territories from June 25 to July 10 Trump supporters gather to be first in line ahead of Trump's participation in the opening ceremony launching the Great American State Fair, part of celebrations for the 250th anniversary of US Independence, on the National Mall in Washington, June 24, 2026 As for the 19-year age gap between her and Patel, it's not uncommon in Trump's orbit.   'There are a lot of people in this administration with age differences. There are a lot of people out there with age differences,' she said previously. A flyover is planned for the Wednesday evening kickoff ceremony for the fair.  It is expected to include F-16s, F-35As and America's iconic long-range stealth bomber used recently against Iran, the B-2 Spirit.  Singer of the Trump rally anthem 'God Bless the USA, ' Lee Greenwood, and opera singer Christopher Macchio are also expected to perform on Wednesday evening.  The fair will last until July 10 and feature a booth from all 50 US states and six territories. These pavilions will offer food and souvenirs ranging from Texas barbecue to Alaskan ice carvings and a Hawaiian hula hooping area. There is also a 110-foot Ferris Wheel on the National Mall adorned with lights for the two-week spectacle.   No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? 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