Dan Bongino was known for promoting the conspiracy theory that alleged the Trump campaign was being spied on, referring to the situation as “spygate” and describing it as “the biggest scandal in American history.” During a segment discussing the opposition to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination, Bongino stated that his primary focus was on opposing liberals, whom he criticized for their handling of the Kavanaugh process.
Bongino’s strong defense of former President Trump drew the attention of Fox producers, resulting in frequent appearances on the network. It was during this time that Trump reportedly became aware of Bongino. In June 2018, Trump shared two Twitter posts quoting Bongino after he made remarks on “Fox & Friends” criticizing then-CIA Director John Brennan.
According to a report by the Daily Beast in October 2018, Bongino’s connection with Trump deepened, with Trump reportedly discussing “malicious influences inside the FBI” with aides, attributing his information to Bongino.
Bongino’s NRATV show was short-lived, ending in December 2018. In response to critics claiming he had been fired, Bongino humorously addressed his show’s closure. Shortly after, in January 2019, Fox News signed Bongino as a contributor despite reports of him being banned from Shannon Bream’s show on the same network due to an incident during a recording.
In 2021, Bongino began hosting “Unfiltered” on Fox News, using the platform to express skepticism about the 2020 election results and to promote various conspiracy theories, including those related to COVID-19 and government mandates.
On the day of the Capitol attack, Bongino faced a temporary suspension from Twitter for sharing a video initially posted by Trump. Following the attack, Bongino expressed frustration over the removal of the Parler app, in which he was an investor, from app stores.
In 2022, YouTube permanently banned Bongino for spreading COVID-19 misinformation through his podcast. Despite this, Facebook continued to allow him to use its platform to reach a large audience with his views.
Bongino departed from Fox News in 2023 but continued expanding his podcast on Rumble, a platform in which Vice President JD Vance is an investor. Although Bongino was not as prominent a supporter of the QAnon conspiracy theory as others, he has previously supported QAnon figures. His supporters within pro-Trump and conspiracy circles have expressed approval of his new role, suggesting that he and Patel may finally reveal the “deep state,” a group they allege has been covertly targeting Trump.
An update on February 24, 2025, added information regarding the FBI Agents Association’s perspective on Bongino’s appointment.
