Late Sunday night, President Donald Trump named conservative commentator and former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino as the next Deputy Director of the FBI. The appointment, revealed via Trump’s Truth Social platform, places Bongino in the second-in-command role at the nation’s premier law enforcement agency under newly confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel.
Trump hailed the decision as “great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice,” praising Bongino as “a man of incredible love and passion for our Country.”
The president highlighted Bongino’s credentials, including a Master’s Degree in Psychology from the City University of New York (C.U.N.Y.), an MBA from Penn State, and his extensive law enforcement background. “He was a member of the New York Police Department (New York’s Finest!), a highly respected Special Agent with the United States Secret Service, and is now one of the most successful podcasters in the Country, something he is willing and prepared to give up in order to serve,” Trump wrote.
Bongino, 50, brings a unique resume to the role. After serving as an NYPD officer from 1995 to 1999, he joined the Secret Service, where he worked on protective details during the administrations of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. In recent years, he has risen to prominence as a right-wing media personality, hosting The Dan Bongino Show, a top-rated podcast, and previously anchoring Unfiltered with Dan Bongino on Fox News until 2023.
His outspoken support for Trump, including controversial claims about the 2020 election, has made him a polarizing figure.
The appointment marks a significant departure from tradition, as the FBI Deputy Director role has typically been filled by career agents with deep agency experience. Bongino’s selection, which does not require Senate confirmation, underscores Trump’s preference for loyalists in key positions. He will work alongside Patel, another Trump ally confirmed as FBI Director last week, and newly appointed Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“Working with our great new United States Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and Director Patel, Fairness, Justice, Law and Order will be brought back to America, and quickly,” Trump added in his statement.
Bongino expressed gratitude shortly after the announcement, posting on X: “Thank you Mr. President, Attorney General Bondi, and Director Patel.”
