Who Is Dan Bongino? Everything About the Media Personality Appointed as FBI Deputy Director

Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent turned conservative firebrand, is now the FBI’s deputy director—a surprising pick for a role typically held by career agents.

Known for his fierce loyalty to Donald Trump and his no-holds-barred media presence, Bongino built a massive following through his podcast and outspoken political commentary.

His appointment signals a major shift in FBI leadership, sparking both praise and controversy.

Will he bring a fresh perspective or deepen political divides? Here’s a closer look at the man now shaping America’s top law enforcement agency.

Introducing Dan Bongino: Podcaster Appointed as FBI Deputy Director

Former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino is Trump’s choice for FBI deputy director. Bongino, now a conservative commentator, strongly supports Trump.

His views have earned him a huge following but also got him banned from YouTube for spreading misinformation.

Bongino, 50, hosts The Dan Bongino Show, a popular radio and podcast program. In January, industry analyst PodTrac ranked it the 7th most-listened-to podcast in the U.S.

Trump said Bongino is “willing and prepared” to leave his show for the FBI role.

The deputy director oversees domestic and international operations, a position usually held by career FBI agents.

Bongino has never worked for the FBI, though he previously served in the New York police department.

Early Life

Daniel John Bongino was born on December 4, 1974, in Queens, New York City. He is of Italian descent.

Bongino is an American conservative commentator, radio host, author, and former law enforcement officer.

Since 2025, he has served as the deputy director of the FBI. He currently hosts The Dan Bongino Show on Rumble. Previously, he hosted Unfiltered with Dan Bongino on Fox News until April 2023.

He started his career as a New York City police officer from 1995 to 1999. He then joined the U.S. Secret Service, serving from 1999 to 2011.

Bongino later ran for Congress three times as a Republican but lost each time. On February 23, 2025, President Donald Trump announced Bongino as the next FBI deputy director.

Education and Career Beginnings

Bongino graduated from Archbishop Molloy High School, a Catholic all-male school in Jamaica, Queens, in 1992.

He then attended Queens College, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology. He later earned an MBA from Pennsylvania State University.

From 1995 to 1999, Bongino worked as a police officer for the New York City Police Department.

In 1999, he joined the U.S. Secret Service as a special agent. In 2002, he left the New York Field Office to teach at the Secret Service Training Academy in Beltsville, Maryland.

In 2006, he joined the Presidential Protection Division during George W. Bush’s second term.

He continued serving under President Barack Obama until May 2011, when he left to run for the U.S. Senate.

Media Career

After his failed congressional run in 2015, Bongino started a podcast in his basement called The Renegade Republican, later renamed The Dan Bongino Show.

By 2016, his episodes—covering topics like media bias and liberal policies—were reaching millions.

In 2018, his bold style landed him a contract with NRATV, the National Rifle Association’s short-lived online channel.

That year, he declared, “My entire life right now is about owning the libs.” Trump took notice, often sharing Bongino’s comments on social media.

According to the Daily Beast, Trump once told a confidant, “He’s so right, he’s just so right about it all.”

In 2019, Bongino launched Bongino Report, a right-wing news aggregator meant as a pro-Trump alternative to Drudge Report.

His Facebook page soon gained more engagement than The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN combined, according to a 2020 New York Times report.

In 2021, Cumulus Media chose Bongino to replace the late Rush Limbaugh’s talk radio slot.

He also began hosting Unfiltered with Dan Bongino on Fox News and a five-part Fox Nation series on cancel culture called Canceled in the USA.

He left Fox News in April 2023 after failed contract negotiations.

Bongino still hosts his podcast and radio show, though Trump announced that Bongino is “willing and prepared” to leave them for his new role as FBI deputy director.

Personal Life

Bongino is married to Paula Andrea Martínez, who was born in Colombia. They have two daughters.

In 2012, he and his wife ran three home-based businesses. They sold martial arts apparel, designed websites, and provided security and risk management consulting.

While campaigning in 2016, Bongino avoided discussing his businesses. He claimed that he and his wife had already shut them down.

He lived in Severna Park, Maryland, from 2002 until 2015. That year, he moved to Palm City, Florida.

In June 2020, Bongino announced that he had bought an ownership stake in Parler, a social media platform. However, he did not reveal how much he invested.

Was Dan Bongino diagnosed with cancer?

On September 23, 2020, Bongino announced that doctors had found a seven-centimeter tumor in his throat.

He did not know if it was cancerous or benign but planned to fly to New York on September 25 for more tests.

On October 2, he shared that he had received bad news from his doctors and would undergo surgery on October 7.

After the surgery, he tweeted that doctors had removed the entire tumor but suspected he had lymphoma. He said he would need further treatment.

On October 16, Bongino confirmed he had been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma and would continue treatment with his doctors.

In a July 2021 interview, he announced that he had “beaten” cancer.