Dan Bongino has been appointed as the deputy director of the FBI by former President Donald Trump. The announcement was made via social media, where Trump praised Dan Bongino as “a man of incredible love and passion for our country.” Bongino will serve under newly confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel.
Bongino, 50, previously served in the New York Police Department and the Secret Service. A well-known Trump supporter, he has frequently promoted claims about the 2020 election. His appointment, which does not require Senate approval, means neither of the top two FBI officials have prior experience in the agency.
“Thank you, Mr. President,” Dan Bongino posted on social media after the announcement. Traditionally, the deputy director has been a career FBI agent with extensive experience in law enforcement and investigations. Bongino, however, is best known for hosting The Dan Bongino Show, a daily political podcast.
During a recent episode of his podcast, Bongino discussed the FBI’s future, praising Patel’s leadership and addressing Democratic concerns about potential political influence in the agency. He emphasized that Patel’s priority is crime-fighting and described him as the “change agent” the FBI needs.
Bongino’s appointment comes at a time of upheaval within the FBI, following forced resignations of top officials and scrutiny over investigations into the 2021 Capitol riot. Critics argue these changes threaten the agency’s political independence. However, both Patel and Bongino are viewed as loyal Trump allies. On his radio show, Bongino dismissed concerns about partisanship, stating, “We are going to re-establish faith in this institution. The FBI belongs to the American people.”
Bongino, who has run for Congress three times, interviewed Trump on his podcast during the last election. He has also promoted claims regarding the FBI’s search of Trump’s Florida home. Following his appointment, Trump announced that Bongino would step away from his podcast to focus on his new role at the FBI.
Background: Who is Dan Bongino?
Daniel John Bongino (born December 4, 1974) is an American conservative commentator, radio host, author, and former law enforcement officer. Since 2025, he has served as the 20th deputy director of the FBI. He currently hosts The Dan Bongino Show on Rumble and previously hosted Unfiltered with Dan Bongino on Fox News until April 2023. Bongino worked as an NYPD officer from 1995 to 1999, then as a U.S. Secret Service agent until 2011. He later ran for Congress three times as a Republican.
