Donald Trump has appointed a former Secret Service agent-turned broadcaster as the latest Fox News veteran to join his cabinet as Deputy Director of Kash Patel’s FBI.
Dan Bongino, a political TV and radio commentator who worked as an agent for over a decade, was announced as Patel’s second-in-command on Sunday night.
Trump said it was Patel’s call in a post to Truth Social announcing Bongino’s hiring.
‘Great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice! Dan Bongino, a man of incredible love and passion for our Country, has just been named the next DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE FBI, by the man who will be the best ever Director, Kash Patel,’ he said.
Trump praised Bongino for being ‘willing and prepared to give up’ his current career as ‘one of the most successful podcasters in the country.’
He continued: ‘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!’
Bongino becomes the latest Fox News veteran to join up with the cabinet alongside Pete Hegseth, Tammy Bruce, Sebastian Gorka, Sean Duffy and Tulsi Gabbard.
The New York native worked as a New York City police officer from 1995 to 1999 until he joined the Secret Service, working to protect both George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
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
The political TV and radio commentator, who worked as an agent for over a decade, was announced as Patel’s second-in-command
He has attempted to run for political office several times, including a run at a Senate seat in Maryland in 2012.
The Trump era led to him becoming a prominent figure in conservative media, with gigs as a commentator for Fox News and as a radio show host and podcaster.
Bongino’s appointment comes just days after MAGA loyalist Kash Patel was confirmed by the Senate as Trump’s FBI Director.
His confirmation in a 51-49 vote came after a battle between Democrats and Republicans as Trump critics said Patel was unqualified and lacking the temperament to be top cop.
For a few years following Rush Limbaugh’s death in 2021, he was chosen for a radio show on the same time slot of the famous commentator.
From 2021 to 2023, he hosted a weekend program for Fox, Unfiltered with Dan Bongino.
Bongino’s show, which aired Saturdays at 9pm eastern, was a success for the network. The final episode drew 1.18million viewers and ranked as the highest-rated primetime show of the day.
‘We were the number one show 90 percent of the time. We had a great team,’ Bongino said when he left the network.
Trump said it was Patel’s call in a post to Truth Social announcing Bongino’s hiring Sunday night
‘You’re going to read a thousand left wing articles about some nonsense, and I’m guaranteeing you on my reputation, it is all made up. It’s a simple contract thing, and that’s it. It is no more complicated than that.’
In a statement, Fox News wished their former host well: ‘We thank Dan for his contributions and wish him success in his future endeavors.’
The Bongino breakup came on the heels of Fox News agreeing to pay Dominion Voting Systems a $787million settlement in a defamation suit.
Referring to the optics of the split’s timing, Bongino said, ‘the timing’s not great.’
He currently hosts The Dan Bongino Show on Rumble.
Trump celebrated Bongino as a family man in an additional post to his Truth Social account.
‘Another aspect of the life of Dan Bongino that I think is very important. He has a great wife, Paula, and two wonderful daughters who truly love their dad. What an incredible job Dan will do!!!’
During an interview last fall, Bongino asked Trump to commit to forming a commission to reform the Secret Service.
He described it as a ‘failed’ agency and criticized it for two assassination attempts against the then-Presidential hopeful last year.
‘That guy should have been nowhere near you,’ Bongino said about the man who authorities say camped outside Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, before he was spotted with a rifle.
During the same interview, Trump praised the Secret Service agent who saw the rifle’s barrel coming out of a bush.
Trump had earlier been shot at during a rally in Pennsylvania.
