Trump Sparks Uproar with Controversial FBI Appointment: Dan Bongino Named Deputy Director
The political landscape in Washington has been rocked by Donald Trump’s latest appointment, setting off alarm bells among critics and intensifying fears over the future of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In a late-night announcement on his Truth Social platform, Trump revealed that conservative firebrand and far-right podcaster Dan Bongino would be stepping in as the new deputy director of the FBI—a move that many see as a dangerous step toward politicizing the nation’s top law enforcement agency.
Bongino, a former New York police officer and Secret Service agent who once provided security for Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, has built his brand as a vocal pro-Trump commentator, frequently pushing claims of a “deep state” conspiracy against the former president. His appointment marks an unprecedented break from FBI tradition, as it is the first time in the agency’s 117-year history that the second-in-command role has not been filled by a career FBI agent.
A Radical Shift at the FBI
The announcement comes just after Trump’s handpicked director, Kash Patel, was confirmed to lead the bureau—another controversial choice that signaled a seismic shift in the agency’s leadership. Patel, a former Trump administration official with a history of lambasting the FBI as a corrupt, partisan entity, has previously vowed to dismantle what he calls the “deep state” within the organization. He has even floated the idea of turning the FBI’s Washington headquarters into a museum.
With Bongino as Patel’s right-hand man, critics fear the FBI could be weaponized to target Trump’s political adversaries rather than uphold justice impartially. The outcry has been swift and fierce.
Backlash from Lawmakers and Law Enforcement
“Donald Trump just named far-right MAGA podcaster Dan Bongino, a notorious conspiracy theorist who promoted the lie that the 2020 election was ‘stolen,’ to serve as Deputy Director of the FBI. God help us all,” the anti-Trump group Republicans Against Trump posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Gregg Nunziata, a Republican legal expert and former general counsel to Sen. Marco Rubio, condemned the decision, arguing that it exemplifies the failure of GOP senators to oppose Patel’s appointment in the first place. “Kash Patel should have been a redline. Bongino is what you get when [Republican] Senators fail to do their jobs and say no to Patel,” he wrote, calling the appointments a reckless takeover of federal law enforcement.
Democrats have been equally vocal. Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut didn’t mince words, writing, “Trump has chosen grifters to lead the FBI. Dan Bongino’s entire show is telling listeners the world is ending so they buy the dozens of survivalist products he sells. I know this feels like a bad dream. It isn’t.”
A Deeply Divisive Appointment
Trump, however, painted a vastly different picture in his announcement. Calling it “great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice,” the former president praised Bongino as “a man of incredible love and passion for our country.” He emphasized Bongino’s decision to leave behind his wildly successful podcasting career—one of the most popular in conservative circles—to take on the role.
While Trump’s supporters have celebrated the appointment, seeing it as a necessary move to purge the FBI of alleged partisan corruption, many within the bureau itself are reportedly unsettled. The FBI Agents Association had previously urged Patel to select an experienced special agent for the deputy role, arguing that operational expertise, experience, and trust among agents were crucial for the position.
Bongino’s past statements have only added fuel to the fire. A former Fox News host, he has repeatedly amplified Trump’s unfounded claims of election fraud and openly declared, “My entire life right now is about owning the libs.” His appointment raises questions about the fate of two top FBI officials, Brian Driscoll and Robert Kissane, who had been serving as acting director and acting deputy director, respectively. The pair recently made headlines for resisting administration orders to hand over a list of thousands of FBI agents involved in the investigation of the January 6 Capitol riot—a move widely interpreted as an attempt to root out perceived disloyalty within the bureau.
A Tipping Point for the FBI?
The Bongino appointment cements what many see as Trump’s ongoing transformation of the FBI into a more politicized agency, sparking renewed debates about the independence of federal law enforcement. With Patel and Bongino at the helm, the direction of the bureau appears poised for a dramatic shift—one that could have lasting consequences for American democracy.
As Washington braces for what’s next, one thing is certain: the battle over the future of the FBI is only just beginning.
