"Trump Considers 'Right-Wing Podcaster' Dan Bongino for Secret Service Director"

Donald Trump, the President-elect of the United States, is reportedly considering 'right-wing podcaster' Dan Bongino for the position of director of the Secret Service (SS) in the next administration, CNN reported on the 20th (local time).

Former U.S. Secret Service (SS) agent and "right-wing podcaster" Dan Bongino is attending a forum related to the shooting incident involving then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, held last August at the Heritage Foundation in Washington DC. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

According to sources, Trump is reviewing not only right-leaning media figures but also former SS agents who previously protected him as candidates to lead the SS, which protects current and former U.S. presidents and high-ranking officials. The SS has been criticized for failing to adequately prevent an assassination attempt on Trump during the election campaign.

CNN reported, "Dan Bongino, a former SS agent and podcaster who strongly criticized the SS leadership when their protection failure was revealed during the assassination attempt, is being considered for the director position."

Bongino served in the SS for over 10 years. Those who worked with him praised him as an excellent agent, CNN said. However, Bongino stated on his podcast last week that he has not had any official discussions regarding the SS director position. Well known as a Trump supporter, Bongino is a prominent conservative podcaster who has hosted programs on Fox News. Before joining the SS, he worked for the New York Police Department (NYPD). He also ran unsuccessfully as a Republican candidate in the Maryland House of Delegates election.

Robert Engel, former head of Trump's security team, is also mentioned as a candidate for SS director. He was with Trump throughout the day on January 6, 2021, during the Capitol riot. Sean Curran, the current head of the security team, is also considered a candidate for the next SS director. However, one source noted that Curran’s close relationship with Trump could be problematic, suggesting that Trump might want Curran to continue as head of the security team for the first few years of his administration. CNN reported, "The appointment of the SS director could be crucial for the future of the SS, especially for the personal future of President-elect Trump."