President Donald Trump has ignited political debate with his FBI deputy director appointment of Dan Bongino, a polarizing conservative commentator and former Secret Service agent. The Sunday night announcement via Truth Social positions Bongino as second-in-command to Director Kash Patel, consolidating Trump-aligned leadership at America’s top federal law enforcement agency.
Bongino’s unconventional path to the FBI’s executive tier includes:
- 14-year Secret Service career protecting Presidents Bush and Obama
- Three failed congressional campaigns in Maryland and Florida
- Building a media empire through Fox News appearances and Spotify’s #1 political podcast
This is great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice, Trump declared in his social media post. The statement follows Friday’s swearing-in of Patel, who has already announced plans to decentralize FBI operations by moving hundreds of agents from Washington headquarters.
Democrats express alarm about potential weaponization of federal resources, particularly given Bongino’s history of promoting 2020 election conspiracy theories. As deputy director, the 49-year-old will oversee daily operations traditionally managed by career agents rather than political appointees.
That guy should have been nowhere near you,Bongino told Trump during a 2023 interview criticizing Secret Service failures during assassination attempts.
Observers note the appointment continues Trump’s pattern of rewarding loyalists – Bongino frequently defends the former president through his 2.5 million daily podcast listeners. The media personality’s law enforcement credentials include NYPD service from 1997-1999 and Secret Service counterassault training.
As the FBI undergoes its most significant restructuring since 9/11, critics question whether Bongino’s lack of investigative experience and partisan background align with the bureau’s mission. Supporters argue his operational knowledge from presidential protection details brings fresh perspective to criminal investigations.