President Donald Trump on Sunday named former Fox News host and conservative pundit Dan Bongino as the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s deputy director, in a move that follows his controversial decision to pick Kash Patel to lead the agency and breaks with the agency’s tradition of having a career agent serve in the deputy director role.
Former Fox News host Dan Bongino will serve as the deputy director of the FBI.
Announcing the decision on his Truth Social platform, Trump described Bongino as “a man of incredible love and passion for our Country,” and said his pick was “Great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice!”
In his announcement, Trump said Bongino—who has been a vocal Trump supporter—is “one of the most successful Podcasters in the Country,” and praised his willingness to “give [that] up in order to serve.”
Unlike FBI Director Kash Patel’s nomination, Bongino will not have to go through a Senate confirmation process.
According to the New York Times, Trump’s announcement was made just an hour after the F.B.I. Agents Association informed its members that Patel has privately told them that his deputy should be a career FBI agent—in line with tradition.
The association, which congratulated Patel after his confirmation last week, has not commented on Trump’s announcement, but the Times report added that the move has intensified “mistrust among the rank-and-file” at the FBI.
Bongino shared a screenshot of Trump’s announcement on X and wrote: “Thank you Mr. President, Attorney General Bondi, and Director Patel.”
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