Former Secret Service agent and conservative commentator Dan Bongino has been named deputy director of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The announcement, made Sunday night on Trump’s Truth Social platform, described Bongino as "a man of incredible love and passion for our country."
Bongino’s appointment means two strong Trump allies now lead the FBI, with Kash Patel recently sworn in as director. Patel has already signaled plans to overhaul the bureau, including relocating employees and refocusing on traditional crime-fighting. His stance on whether he would pursue Trump’s political opponents remains unclear.
At 49, Bongino brings a varied background to the role. He served in the NYPD from 1997 to 1999 before joining the Secret Service, where he was assigned to the presidential details of George W. Bush and Barack Obama. After leaving government service, he transitioned into conservative media, hosting Fox News segments, writing bestselling books, and launching The Dan Bongino Show, one of Spotify’s top podcasts.
Bongino has also run unsuccessfully for office multiple times, including a U.S. Senate seat in Maryland (2012) and congressional races in Maryland and Florida (2014, 2016). He has been a vocal supporter of the MAGA movement and has spread claims about the 2020 election.
Last year, he criticized the Secret Service, calling it a "failed" agency after two assassination attempts. During an interview, he pressed Trump to commit to reforming the agency, saying, “That guy should have been nowhere near you,” referring to an armed man spotted outside Trump’s Florida golf course.
Bongino's new role as the FBI’s second-in-command gives him significant influence over the bureau’s daily operations, further cementing Trump’s impact on federal law enforcement.
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