Who Is Dan Bongino? Right-Wing Podcaster And Trump’s Unconventional Pick For FBI Deputy Director
Former Secret Service agent and conservative commentator Dan Bongino has been appointed deputy director of the FBI, a departure from tradition.
US President Donald Trump has appointed podcaster and former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino as the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), according to an announcement on Truth Social. Bongino, a staunch Trump ally and conservative commentator, will serve under newly confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel.
In his post, Trump described Bongino as “a man of incredible love and passion for our Country” and emphasised his willingness to step away from his popular podcast, The Dan Bongino Show, to take on the role. “Fairness, Justice, Law and Order will be brought back to America, and quickly,” Trump added.
Patel and Bongino will now lead the FBI, following the departure of Christopher Wray, who resigned at the end of the Biden administration after serving for seven years.
Who Is Dan Bongino? Trump’s Unconventional Pick For FBI Deputy Director
Bongino, 50, previously worked for the New York Police Department before joining the US Secret Service, where he served on the presidential details of George W. Bush and Barack Obama, news agency AP reported. He later became a prominent conservative media figure, hosting shows on Fox News and launching his own podcast, which frequently garners significant engagement on social media platforms.
His appointment marks a departure from tradition, as the deputy director role is typically held by a career FBI agent with extensive bureau experience. The deputy director oversees domestic and international operations and plays a crucial role in coordinating investigations across the agency’s 55 field offices, as per CNN.
Bongino has been a vocal supporter of Trump and has promoted unfounded claims regarding the 2020 US presidential election. He has also criticised the FBI’s leadership and law enforcement actions, particularly in relation to the search for classified documents at Trump’s Florida residence.
During a recent episode of his podcast, Bongino praised Patel’s leadership and addressed Democratic concerns about the agency’s future direction. “Kash Patel is there for one reason, he is there to make the FBI great again,” he said, as quoted by BBC. He expressed a commitment to combating crime, referring to Patel as the “change agent” the FBI needs.
“How amazing would it be in four years to look back with a good, high-quality, reformed FBI free of woke culture and DEI that goes out making headline, big arrests of real bad guys destroying your community. How good would that be?” Bongino remarked.
Bongino has previously run for political office, contesting a US Senate seat in Maryland in 2012 and congressional seats in Maryland and Florida in 2014 and 2016, respectively, though he was unsuccessful in all three races, AP reported.
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Internal Tensions Over FBI Leadership
CNN reported that Patel’s selection of Bongino comes amid tensions within the FBI leadership. The appointment follows a reported standoff between interim FBI leaders and Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove over the release of names of FBI agents involved in the January 6 Capitol riot investigations.
CNN cited people familiar with the matter as informing that Patel had initially considered Robert Kissane, the acting deputy director, for the role. However, after both Kissane and former acting director Brian Driscoll resisted Bove’s demands for names of FBI agents involved in the January 6, 2021, and Trump-related investigations, Patel opted for Bongino instead.
The move has raised concerns within the FBI, as Bongino lacks direct experience in the bureau. According to AP, the president of the FBI Agents Association, Natalie Bara, had stated that Patel agreed during a January meeting with her that the FBI deputy director “should continue to be an on-board, active Special Agent as has been the case for 117 years for many compelling reasons, including operational expertise and experience, as well as the trust of our Special Agent population.”
The FBI Agents Association represents thousands of federal agents current and former.
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Dan Bongino's Right-Wing Media Influence
Bongino has been a key figure in the Make America Great Again movement, using his media platforms to amplify Trump’s political messages. Following the death of conservative radio icon Rush Limbaugh in 2021, Bongino briefly took over a time slot on national radio, as per AP.
He has also been known for engaging in public feuds, including a long-running spat with horror author Stephen King. In 2018, reflecting on his career as a conservative commentator, he stated, “My life is all about owning the libs now”, BBC reported.
Bongino’s relationship with Trump extends beyond media commentary. He previously interviewed Trump on his podcast and has pushed narratives aligning with the former president’s claims, including allegations against the Department of Justice and the FBI.
With a workforce of approximately 38,000 employees and an annual budget exceeding $11 billion, the FBI operates as the United States’ premier federal law enforcement agency. The deputy director plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth execution of investigations and intelligence operations.
As Bongino steps into the role, he and Patel will be responsible for navigating ongoing federal cases, internal reforms, and political scrutiny over the agency’s leadership. It remains to be seen whether placing a vocal conservative commentator in a key FBI leadership role could further politicise the agency.
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