Bongino has cemented himself as a trusted voice in conservative media. But now he was hit with a massive curveball.
Because he received a letter from Trump that changes everything.
President Donald Trump has chosen one of America’s most outspoken conservative voices to take the No. 2 spot at the FBI.
On Sunday night, Trump announced that Dan Bongino, “a man of incredible love and passion for our Country,” will serve as Deputy FBI Director under newly confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel—a move signaling a major shakeup at the embattled agency.
“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. Congratulations Dan!” Trump declared on Truth Social.
Bongino, a former NYPD officer and Secret Service agent, spent over a decade protecting Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama before leaving in 2012.
He later ran three Republican congressional campaigns and became a fierce Trump defender, rising to fame as a frequent Fox News guest and a dominant force in the MAGA media landscape.
Supporters say Bongino will help Patel clean house at the FBI and restore the agency’s focus on law enforcement after years of politically charged scandals.
But critics argue his unapologetic conservatism threatens the FBI’s claim of impartiality.
“I’ve spent my life in public service, beginning with the NYPD and continuing through my time as a Secret Service agent, working under both Republican and Democrat administrations. I’ve witnessed firsthand the dedication and sacrifice of the men and women in these agencies who serve with integrity and honor,” Bongino said in a press release on X.
“There are dedicated people in the FBI who take their oath to the Constitution seriously. They deserve leadership that will back them up, protect their mission, and ensure they can do their jobs.”
Bongino’s loyalty to Trump is well-established. He authored multiple books defending Trump, including one backing Trump’s claims that the Obama administration spied on his 2016 campaign and another exposing the false Russia collusion narrative as part of a broader deep-state conspiracy.
After the 2020 election, Bongino amplified Trump’s claims that the election was rigged and downplayed the January 6 Capitol riot—positions that made him a hero to Trump’s base and a target for left-wing critics.
His hardline stance on Covid-19 mandates also made waves. Bongino publicly blasted Cumulus Media’s corporate vaccine mandate in 2021 and was a vocal opponent of mask mandates, questioning their effectiveness.
Bongino has also dominated the conservative media scene. After leaving Fox News in 2023, he took his massively popular podcast, “The Dan Bongino Show,” to the free-speech platform Rumble, where he quickly became a top draw with 3.5 million followers.
His fiery content pulls no punches—recent episode titles include “Deranged Libs Go All In For Ukraine War and Govt. Corruption” and “Communist Libs Are Causing A ‘Constitutional Crisis.’”
Bongino’s departure from Rumble comes with the blessing of Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski, who praised him on X, writing:
“You helped create the DNA of Rumble and I can’t wait to see how you impact the DNA of the FBI… When you finish your business at the FBI, we’ll be here waiting.”
With Bongino and Patel at the helm, Trump is making it clear: the FBI’s days of operating as a partisan weapon are over.
