Donald Trump’s selection of former Fox News commentator Dan Bongino as assistant director of the FBI brings in a partisan warrior who has sworn himself to ‘owning the libs’ while warning of dark forces and selling survival supplies.
Bongino has hurled expletives at reporters and blasted the Democratic president he once guarded during his 12 years as a Secret Service Agent.
He grew emotional on his podcast Monday, titling the episode ‘Cutesy time is over.’
The trove of public commentary by the former NYPD officer has critics on the left arguing he is even more of a lightning rod than new FBI Director Kash Patel, who was confirmed 51-49 in the Senate after being accused of drawing up an ‘enemies list.’
Amid the partisan clash over the Brett Kavanaugh nomination during Trump’s first term, Bongino dedicated himself to payback.
At the time he said: ‘That’s it. The libs, because they have shown themselves through this Kavanaugh abomination of a process to be ― I’m talking about the libs on Capitol Hill and sadly some of these radical groups ― to be pure, unadulterated evil, what they did to this guy.
‘You have to lose, I’m sorry. We win, you lose, the new rules are in effect. My life is all about owning the libs now. We have got to get this guy appointed on the Supreme Court,’ he said.
Bongino has made a career of ripping into political rivals on his show, vowing to ‘own the libs’
He promoted election conspiracies on his NRATV show on the gun rights group’s digital network.
‘We’re basically having our votes counted by Venezuelans who are close to [Nicolás] Maduro,’ guest former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani told him on the program.
‘That’s insane,’ Bongino replied.
He was warned repeatedly about dark forces threatening the nation – and touts a product to prepare.
‘Folks, there’s an emergency around the corner every single time. Do you trust the people in charge to tell you it’s coming? I don’t!’ Bongino said on his show promoting a special offer by Patriot Supply, which sells a three month emergency food kit.
‘The only thing that matters is power. Power. That is all that matters. A system of checks and balances? Haha! That’s a good one.’
Now, Bongino is assuming a position of extraordinary influence.
He has also railed against the Russia probe, and occasionally hosted Donald Trump on his show.
‘Listen, I’ve spent nearly 20 years of my life as a cop and a federal investigator. I have never in my life seen such an obvious frame job and setup. This was a sting operation against the Trump team,’ Bongino told Fox & Friends in 2018.
Bongino has impressed Trump with his zeal for going after his rivals – including members of the press that Trump calls the ‘fake news.’
‘Go f*** yourself, you piece of s***!’ he told a Florida reporter while disputing a report about an unsuccessful House campaign.
That came after two failed political runs in Maryland, one for a Senate seat and one for a House district. He later hosted a Saturday night show on Fox News, then started his own popular podcast after parting ways with the network in 2023. He never worked for the FBI.
The Senate run had Bongino in the unusual position of blasting the chief executive he once protected.
Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent-turned broadcaster and ardent supporter of Donald Trump, is the next Fox News veteran to join his cabinet as Deputy Director of Kash Patel’s FBI
Bongino his ripped reporters, aired conspiracy theories about the 2020 elections, and railed against the Russia probe
‘You have to lose, I’m sorry. We win, you lose, the new rules are in effect. My life is all about owning the libs now,’ Bongino said after the fight over Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court
Sen. Chris Murphy accused Bongino of ‘conning people’ and ‘selling them junk to prep for war’
‘Spygate? Obama was in charge. Collusion hoax? Obama’s in charge. Hillary emails?Obama’s in charge. Bribery scandal? Obama’s in charge. There’s a common thread. this isn’t a conspiracy theory,’ he said.
He went on to discuss an allegation that Joe Biden ‘took a $5 million bribe’.
‘Obama’s vice president, keep that in mind,’ he said, in an appearance posted by conservative commentator Benny Johnson after Trump named Bongino.
‘Oh man the deep state is cooked,’ Johnson wrote in another post.
Bongino wears his emotions on his sleeve, and said he ‘kinda broke down’ after Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Patel offered him the role.
‘I told you – you see, it’s hard for me,’ he said, recounting the experience to his listeners on The Dan Bongino show, which streamed Monday. ‘I’m going to accept the role proudly as the deputy director – the Number Two spot at the Federal Bureau of Investigation,’ he said.
Patel over the weekend told FBI employees now reporting to him to ignore Elon Musk’s directive to write a memo by midnight today with five bullet points on what they did last week.
He praised Bongino, despite an FBI union saying Patel had agreed an FBI employee should get the post.
Patel called him ‘a warrior and lifelong public servant.’
‘His leadership, integrity, and deep commitment to justice make him the ideal choice to help lead the FBI at this critical time. He’s a cops cop,’ Patel said.
‘With Pam Bondi as our new Attorney General, we are assembling a team focused on restoring public trust, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring justice is served.’
Tearing into Bongino early Monday was Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who has been getting media traction for his hits on Trump. He accused Bongino of exploiting fear on his show.
Trump is now just spitting in the face of Senate Republicans bc he knows he owns them,’ Murphy wrote. ‘Bongino’s career is conning people that Dems are a safety threat and selling them junk to prep for war.
”Owning the libs is a lifestyle,’ he says,’ Murphy continued. ‘The new Deputy FBI Director, everyone!’ He called Patel and Bongino ‘grifters’ and pointed to ‘dozens of survivalist products’ Bongino sells.
