Podcaster, Secret Sevice veteran named deputy FBI director

President Donald Trump shared Sunday night that conservative commentator Dan Bongino would serve as deputy director under the bureau’s recently appointed director Kash Patel. Bongino is willing to give up his successful weekday show to serve the country, Trump wrote. The podcaster, who also has worked in law enforcement and security, said Monday that he was motivated to accept the position by his belief that law enforcement and national security must be strengthened. Serving in FBI leadership is about professionalism and accountability, not politics, he wrote. Bongino’s diverse experiences of protecting presidents, investigating national threats, and serving in basic law enforcement qualify him to support the men and women of the FBI, he added in a statement posted to social media. His appointment is not subject to the approval of the Senate.

The appointee was well-known as a conservative commentator before the 2021 launch of The Dan Bongino Show, which replaced the hugely successful radio show of Rush Limbaugh. Bongino’s weekday podcast has been marketed as discussing hot-button political issues while debunking rhetoric from both sides of the aisle.

What makes Bongino qualified? The president highlighted Bongino's history of serving in the New York Police Department and as a special agent in the Secret Service. Bongino held a master’s degree in psychology from the City University of New York and a master's in business administration from the Pennsylvania State University, Trump added. Bongino ran several failed congressional campaigns from 2012-2016. Before launching his podcast, Bongino hosted the Fox News show Unfiltered with Dan Borgino with Trump’s Secretary of State Pete Hegseth listed as a cohost.

Dig deeper: Read my report on the Senate confirming Trump’s FBI director Kash Patel last week.