US President Donald Trump has appointed Dan Bongino, a right-wing commentator, as the FBI’s deputy director.
Trump stated on social media that Bongino was “a man of incredible love and passion for our country” and would report to newly confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel.
Bongino, 50, is a former NYPD and Secret Service agent who served as part of the protection detail for two presidents, George W Bush and Barack Obama.
He hosts a self-titled podcast whose Facebook posts frequently receive more attention than Fox News and CNN combined.
“Thank you, Mr. President, Attorney General Bondi, and Director Patel,” Bongino wrote on X in response to Trump’s announcement.
In his Sunday social media announcement, Trump stated that Bongino is “willing and prepared to give up” the podcast “in order to serve”.
“Fairness, Justice, Law and Order will be brought back to America, and quickly,” Trump tweeted.
He stated that Bongino would do a “incredible job” at the FBI.
Bongino, who has run for Congress three times, hosted the current president on his daily podcast, The Dan Bongino Show, prior to last year’s election.
Recent episodes of his show have titles like “Trump Keeps Delivering And The Libs Are Seething” and “The Only People Who Love Crime Are Criminals!!!”
Bongino, a well-known conservative political commentator, stated in 2018 that “my life is all about owning the libs now.”
With a combative demeanour, he frequently responds to Trump’s detractors on X, including a long-running feud with horror author Stephen King.
Bongino’s new FBI director, Patel, was narrowly confirmed by the Senate last week to lead the law enforcement agency he has long criticised.
Democrats had warned that he would seek retribution against Trump’s critics, but the former prosecutor has denied any plans to pursue political vendettas and promised to “rebuild” the bureau.
