Donald Trump has named Dan Bongino, a far-right podcaster with no prior experience in the FBI, as the bureau's next deputy director. The appointment, announced on Trump's Truth Social network, marks the first time in the FBI's 117-year history that the second-in-command post has not been held by a senior agent.
Bongino, a former New York police officer and Secret Service agent, is best known as a conservative commentator who has promoted Trump's false claim that the 2020 election was stolen. He has run unsuccessfully for Congress three times and previously hosted a show on Fox News.
The move has sparked bipartisan concern. Gregg Nunziata, a Republican and former counsel to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, called Bongino an unqualified partisan henchman, warning that his appointment was more extreme than that of newly confirmed FBI director Kash Patel. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy described Bongino as a grifter who sells survivalist products to fearful listeners.
The FBI Agents Association had earlier secured an agreement from Patel that his deputy should be an active special agent, raising questions about how Bongino's installation will affect operational trust. The appointment also casts uncertainty over the fate of acting director Brian Driscoll and acting deputy Robert Kissane, who refused to comply with an administration demand for names of agents involved in the January 6 investigation.
Right-wing provocateur Charlie Kirk praised the appointment as a huge upgrade, while the account Republicans Against Trump condemned it, saying 'God help us all.' Bongino has written books alleging a 'deep state' conspiracy against Trump and previously stated his life is about 'owning the libs.'
