MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” unpacked political commentator and podcaster Dan Bongino being named deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and said the placement is “beyond problematic.”
“This is really concerning. Any hope that Kash could be steered by having experienced leaders around him is out the window,” host Jonathan Lemire said, quoting the response from former FBI official Christopher O’Leary. “We now have two conspiracy theorists and election deniers running our premier law enforcement and intelligence agency. That is beyond problematic.”
You can watch the full “Morning Joe” clip below:
O’Leary’s statement is just one of many responses to Bongino’s installment. On Monday, it was announced that he would be taking on the position of President Trump’s FBI director, though he has never served in an agency. He is best known for his conservative podcast “The Dan Bongino Show” which ranked as the seventh most popular podcast in the country.
“Great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice!” Trump wrote Sunday on Truth Social, which Bongino shared on X. “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.”
“Former Fox News personality Dan Bongino will be second-in-command to lead the FBI. This is the latest in a series of Trump’s controversial picks for high-profile law enforcement roles,” Lemire said as he explained Bongino’s background. “Trump named Bongino as deputy FBI director yesterday. To note, that job is traditionally held by a career FBI agent. In fact, I believe this is the first time a political appointee got that post. He is a former Secret Service agent, an NYPD officer, though he has never served in the FBI. As a pro-Trump podcaster, he has advanced a number of baseless theories about the bureau he is set to lead. That appointment does not require Senate confirmation, but it’s already receiving backlash.”
But MSNBC and O’Leary were not the only folks to respond to his appointment. Americans, politicians and all alike chimed in.
See other reactions to Bongino’s appointment below:
You can watch the full “Morning Joe” clip above.
