A senator at Kash Patel’s confirmation hearing to be F.B.I. director pressed him to articulate a simple truth: Joseph R. Biden won the 2020 election.

Under three minutes of questioning from Senator Peter Welch, a Vermont Democrat, Mr. Patel conceded only that Mr. Biden was “certified” as the president.

“Can you say the words ‘Joe Biden won the 2020 election’?” Mr. Welch asked.

Mr. Patel replied, “Joe Biden was the president of the United States.”

Mr. Welch pressed again: “I can say the words ‘Donald Trump won.’ I don’t like to say it. But I must say it. And you cannot say that Joe Biden won the election.”

Mr. Patel declined once more. “What I can say is the same for both of them, senator, both of their elections were certified and they both were — one was and one is now president.”

Mr. Patel’s avoidance of using the “W” word was strikingly similar to how Mr. Trump’s nominee for attorney general, Pam Bondi, also dodged the question at her confirmation hearing earlier this month.

Ms. Bondi said Mr. Biden was “duly sworn in” as the president, but like Mr. Patel, she would not explicitly say that he won.